HLA-E–restricted, Gag-specific CD8+ T cells can suppress HIV-1 infection, offering vaccine opportunities

H Yang, M Rei, S Brackenridge, E Brenna, H Sun… - Science …, 2021 - science.org
H Yang, M Rei, S Brackenridge, E Brenna, H Sun, S Abdulhaqq, MKP Liu, W Ma, P Kurupati…
Science immunology, 2021science.org
Human leukocyte antigen-E (HLA-E) normally presents an HLA class Ia signal peptide to the
NKG2A/C-CD94 regulatory receptors on natural killer (NK) cells and T cell subsets. Rhesus
macaques immunized with a cytomegalovirus-vectored simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)
vaccine generated Mamu-E (HLA-E homolog)–restricted T cell responses that mediated post-
challenge SIV replication arrest in> 50% of animals. However, HIV-1–specific, HLA-E–
restricted T cells have not been observed in HIV-1–infected individuals. Here, HLA-E …
Human leukocyte antigen-E (HLA-E) normally presents an HLA class Ia signal peptide to the NKG2A/C-CD94 regulatory receptors on natural killer (NK) cells and T cell subsets. Rhesus macaques immunized with a cytomegalovirus-vectored simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) vaccine generated Mamu-E (HLA-E homolog)–restricted T cell responses that mediated post-challenge SIV replication arrest in >50% of animals. However, HIV-1–specific, HLA-E–restricted T cells have not been observed in HIV-1–infected individuals. Here, HLA-E–restricted, HIV-1–specific CD8+ T cells were primed in vitro. These T cell clones and allogeneic CD8+ T cells transduced with their T cell receptors suppressed HIV-1 replication in CD4+ T cells in vitro. Vaccine induction of efficacious HLA-E–restricted HIV-1–specific T cells should therefore be possible.
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