MHC-I-restricted presentation of HIV-1 virion antigens without viral replication

Dendritic cells and macrophages can process extracellular antigens for presentation by MHC-I molecules. This exogenous pathway may have a crucial role in the activation of CD8[sup.+] cytotoxic T lymphocytes during human viral infections. We show here that HIV-1 epitopes derived from incoming virions are presented through the exogenous MHC-I pathway in primary human dendritic cells, and to a lower extent in macrophages, leading to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation in the absence of viral protein synthesis. Exogenous antigen presentation required adequate virus-receptor interactions and fusion of viral and cellular membranes. These results provide new insights into how anti-HIV cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be activated and have implications for anti-HIV vaccine design.
Author(s): Florence Buseyne [1]; Sylvie Le Gall [2]; Claire Boccaccio [3]; Jean-Pierre Abastado [3]; Jeffrey D. Lifson [4]; Larry O. Arthur [4]; Yves Riviere [1]; Jean-Michel Heard [2]; Olivier Schwartz [...]