Evidence that the murine AIDS defective virus does not encode a superantigen.

Abstract

The T-cell receptor repertoire was analyzed in C57BL/6 mice upon infection with helper-free stocks of the pathogenic murine AIDS (MAIDS) defective virus in order to demonstrate if, as previously reported, this virus encodes a superantigen. A polyclonal T-cell stimulation involving T cells expressing multiple V beta subsets occurred within the first week of infection, while late in the disease we could note only a 50% deletion of V beta 5 CD8+ cells. Transfection of the MAIDS virus genomic DNA into fibroblasts and B cells expressing major histocompatibility complex class II molecules failed to show any stimulation of cells expressing the specific V beta (V beta 5) previously reported to respond to MAIDS virus-infected cells. In addition, mice lacking V beta 5 cells did not show any significant decrease in susceptibility to the disease compared with mice expressing V beta 5 and bred on the same genetic background. Our in vivo and in vitro results fail to demonstrate a role for a superantigen encoded by the MAIDS defective viral genome in the pathogenesis of MAIDS.

• Authors: L Doyon, C Simard, R P Sékaly, P Jolicoeur
• Journal: Journal of virology (J Virol) Vol. 70 Issue 1 Pg. 1-9 (Jan 1996) ISSN: 0022-538X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8523511 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
• Superantigens
• antigen T cell receptor, epsilon chain

Topics

• Animals
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology, virology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (metabolism)
• Cell Line
• Defective Viruses (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Disease Susceptibility (immunology)
• Fibroblasts (cytology)
• Helper Viruses
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
• Humans
• Leukemia Virus, Murine (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Transgenic
• Murine Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (immunology, virology)
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell (immunology)
• Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta (immunology)
• Superantigens (biosynthesis, immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)