CD8(+) CYTOLYTIC T-LYMPHOCYTES BECOME INFECTED IN-VITRO IN THE PROCESS OF KILLING HIV-1-INFECTED TARGET-CELLS

In the present study the requirements for in vitro infection of antigen-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with human immunodeficiency virus -1 (HIV-1) were investigated. CD3(+)CD8(+)CD4(-) HIV-1 nef-specific CTL become infected with HIV-1 after short-term co-culture with HLA-matched HIV-1-infected CD20(+) B lymphoblastoid cells (B-LCL) which are specifically killed. Similar results were observed with an allospecific CD8(+) CTL population. In addition, co-culture experiments showed that once infected with HIV-1, these CD8(+) CTL could spread the infection further to uninfected CD4(+) lymphocytes. In contrast, CD8(+) CTL did not become infected with HIV-1 when co-cultured with HLA-mismatched HIV-1-infected B-LCL which are not killed. These observations in vitro could have relevance in peripheral lymphoid organs contributing to the progressive decrease of HIV-specific CD8(+) CTL activity that is associated with the progression to AIDS.