Fig. 6.

Ability of CTLs to recognize HIV-1-infected cells and to suppress HIV-1 replication in vitro. a Generation of the T-cell lines specific for TL8 or HR10 from PBMCs of HLA-B*40:02⁺ individual (KI-1391) or HLA-A*33:03⁺ one (KI-1320). The T-cell lines were established as shown in Materials and Methods. The T-cell lines established were stained with the specific tetramers. b Recognition of HIV-1-infected cells by CTLs specific for TL8 or HR10 epitopes. The T-cell lines stimulated with HIV-1 (NL4-3)-infected 721.221 cells (HIV+) expressing the corresponding HLAs or HLA-negative 721.221 cells, and IFN-γ production from the T cells was measured by the ICS assay. The proportions of 721.221-B4002, -A3303 and HLA-negative 721.221 cells infected with NL4-3 were 56.0, 59.7, and 64.1%, respectively. c Suppression of HIV-1 replication by the T-cell lines specific for TL8 or HR10. Primary CD4⁺ T-cells from healthy donors carrying the corresponding HLA alleles were infected with NL4-3, and then co-cultured with epitope-specific T cells at E:T ratios of 1:1 and 0.1:1. The concentration of p24 Ag in the culture supernatant was measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of suppression was calculated as follows: (concentration of p24 without CTLs – concentration of p24 with CTLs) / concentration of p24 without CTLs × 100. The data are presented as the mean and SD (n = 3)