Effects of different antigen stimulation methods on the proliferation of HIV specific CD8 T cells

Objective To study the factors that influence the ex vivo proliferation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) specific CD8 T cells. Methods Three methods to use HIV-specific antigen peptides stimulating the proliferation of virus specific CD8 T cells from HIV patients were compared, and the effect of adding exogenous IL-2 into co-culture on proliferation was evaluated. Results In comparison to directly adding MHC I matched HIV peptides into peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by presence during co-culture or incubating for 2 hours, the more efficient proliferation of HIV-specific CD8 T cells was stimulated by loading HIV peptides on the mixed antigen presenting cells (APCs) that harvested by removing CD8 T cells from PBMCs. Adding IL-2 into co-culture could largely enhance the number of proliferated HIV-specific CD8 T cells but also induced non-specific proliferation of CD8 T cells. Conclusions Stimulation of HIV-specific CD8 T cells by loading HIV-specific antigen peptides on mixed APCs and in absence of IL-2 can specifically induce the efficient proliferation of HIV-specific CD8 T cells by providing both antigen and co-stimulation signals. Key words: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; CD8 T cells; Ex vivo proliferation