The HIV Glycoprotein gp160 Has Superantigen-like Properties

HIV Antigens and T‐Cell Receptor Variable Beta Chain Families

“…(It might be noted that V b 13 and V b 21 are reported to be highly homologous in complementarity determining region 4, thought to be associated with SAG activity [26].) We did not see any effects on V b 12, as reported by others [2,12,13,20,21,26,31]. However, the subfamily specificities of the V b 12 monoclonal reagents we used have not yet been confirmed.…”

“…With gp160 stimulation, increases were found in CD4 + cell levels of TCRBV 3, 12, 14, and 15 (5 of 5 donors), BV17 (3 of 5 donors), and BV20 (2 of 5 donors) [20,21]. For CD8 + cells, increases were reported in BV 3, 12, 14, 15, but ''only in about half of the individuals on average'' [21]. Based on figures duplicated in both manuscripts, the largest increases appear to have been in BV 3, 14, and 15.…”

“…One recent study, described in two strongly overlapping publications, suggested differing Vb-specific effects of HIV gp160 and gp120 antigens [20,21]. Oddly, however, the effects of gp160 could be blocked by monoclonal antibody to gp120 [21].…”

Selective expansion of specific T cell receptors in the inflamed colon of Crohn's disease.

“…Cell viability was Ͼ 90%. CD4 ϩ and CD8 ϩ cells were isolated using immunomagnetic beads conjugated with anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs as described previously, and were Ͼ 98% pure (27,28).…”

“…BV repertoire analysis was performed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) using a modified procedure as previously described by us (28). Briefly, total cel-lular RNA was isolated from positively selected CD4 ϩ and CD8 ϩ cells with RNAzol B (Biotecx Laboratories, Houston, TX) and cDNA was synthesized using reverse BC and AC primers as described (28). BV-specific cDNA was then amplified with BV-specific primers and a 32 P-labeled BC nested primer as previously described (28).…”