T-cell antigen receptor Vβ subsets are not preferentially deleted in AIDS

Evidence for an HIV-1-associated superantigen (SAg) has been presented. Here we test whether targeted T cells are preferentially depleted in AIDS. The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) V beta repertoire was compared in 44 HIV+ hemophiliac patients and in 27 controls. Eleven TCR V gene-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb), representing approximately one-third of the V beta repertoire were used to measure T-cell numbers expressing V beta and V alpha genes in both the CD4 and the CD8 subsets by two-color immunofluorescence. The percentage of T cells expressing these V genes could be accurately quantitated in both the CD4 and the CD8 T-cell populations and at various clinical stages of disease progression. No preferential deletion of any particular V gene subsets was detected. CD4 T-cell depletion in AIDS is not V beta-selective.