Cytotoxic Lymphocytes Target HIV-1 Gag Through Granzyme M-Mediated Cleavage.

ABSTRACT: Untreated HIV-1 infection leads to a slow decrease in CD4⁺ T cell lymphocytes over time resulting in increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS) and ultimately death of the infected individual. Initially, the host's immune response controls the infection, but cannot eliminate the HIV-1 from the host. Cytotoxic lymphocytes are the key effector cells in this response and can mediate crucial antiviral responses through the release of a set of proteases called granzymes towards HIV-1-infected cells. However, little is known about the immunological molecular mechanisms by which granzymes could control HIV-1. Since we noted that HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) Gag with the tetrapeptide insertion PYKE contains a putative granzyme M (GrM) cle

SUBMITTER: Saccon E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8089382 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature