Cell-mediated immune responses to autologous virus in HIV-1-seropositive individuals after treatment with an HIV-1 immunogen

Objective: We hypothesized that cell mediated immune responses to an HIV-1 immunogen (whole-killed, gp120-depleted HIV-1 in IFA, REMUNE) would include those to autologous virus. Methods: Five chronically HIV-1 infected individuals were examined for HIV-specific immune responses to their own virus tautologous viral antigen) after treatment with an HIV-1 immunogen. Results: Subjects had low proliferative responses to HIV and p24 antigens prior to immunization and mounted strong lymphocyte proliferative responses to the immunizing HIV-1 virus, native p24, and autologous viral antigen post immunization. Similarly, subjects produced low amounts of interferon-gamma in response to HIV and p24 antigens prior to immunization and increased their interferon-gamma production in response to HIV-1, native p24, and to autologous antigen post-immunization. Furthermore, beta -chemokine responses measured as migratory inhibitory protein-1 beta production were low at baseline in response to HIV-1 and native p24 antigens and were enhanced post immunization to HIV-1, native p24, and autologous antigen. Conclusions: In this study HIV-specific immune responses to autologous virus were observed after treatment with an HIV-specific immunogen. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.