RNA-mediated transfer of cellular immunity to a synthetic env antigen of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).

A sheep was immunized with a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acid residues 586-606 of the precursor envelope protein GP-160 of the HIV-1 including a conserved epitope region of the GP-41 transmembrane protein in the mature viral particles, referred to as SM 284 HIV-1 [1]. It is demonstrated that immune RNA extracted from the lymphoid organs of the immunized animal (SM 284 HIV-1 I-RNA) was able to transfer immune cellular reactivity to SM 284 HIV-1 in vitro to human and rabbit lymphocytes and in vivo to Cebus apella monkeys. The transfer was detected by the leukocyte adherence inhibition test (LAI) as an indicator of cellular reactivity. One of the most relevant results was the demonstration that SM 284 HIV-1 I-RNA was able to induce cellular immunological memory in vivo in monkeys. These results may be relevant to delineate a new alternative for immunomodulation against HIV infection.