Derivation ofHerpesvirus saimiri-Transformed CD8+T Cell Lines with Noncytotoxic Anti-HIV Activity

Abstract

Herpesvirus saimiri(HVS), strain 488-77, was used to derive continuously growing transformed human CD8+T cell lines that can suppress HIV replication in CD4+cells via the production of an antiviral factor(s). Transformed CD8+cell lines were obtained by HVS infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells or purified CD8+T cells from HIV-infected or uninfected individuals. Suppression of primary or laboratory isolates of HIV was mediated by factor permeation of a transwell membrane or by cell-free culture supernatants. Suppressing and nonsuppressing cell lines were IL-2-dependent for good growth and showed a similar activated cell surface phenotype. The cell lines produced varying amounts of the cytokines IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, TNF-β, RANTES, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β, but not IFN-α. No correlation was observed between the level of any of these cytokines and the presence or absence of antiviral activity in cell line culture supernatants. These cell lines have become an important resource for studying antiviral factors produced by CD8+T cells from HIV-infected individuals.