Prospects for reducing virus-associated human cancers by antiviral vaccines.

The last 25 years have seen a major effort to identify human viruses that either cause cancer in humans directly or can be considered significant cofactors or promoters of cancer. The prevailing view is that tumor-associated viruses are necessary but not sufficient for tumor causation. A long latent period between the initial infection and the appearance of the neoplasm is the norm. Generally, the virus implicated as causative is integrated into cellular DNA. Various virus types have been identified; these include both DNA- and RNA-containing agents from the hepadnavirus, herpesvirus, papovavirus, oncornavirus, and lentivirus groups. Although these candidate viral agents are less prevalent in the developed world, hundreds of millions of people are infected world-wide, and about 1 million infected people develop virus-associated tumors annually. Furthermore, nonviral cofactors are suspect or have been identified in the genesis of many virus-associated cancers. A major global approach to prevention of the initial infection can be made by developing efficacious and cost-effective vaccines. An approved human vaccine is available in one case, whereas in every other situation indications exist that a candidate vaccine may soon be available.

Emergence of viruses resistant to neutralization by V3-specific antibodies in experimental human immunodeficiency virus type 1 IIIB infection of chimpanzees.

Emergence in two chimpanzees of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) IIIB variants resistant to neutralization by the preexisting antibody is described. Viruses isolated from the HIV-1 IIIB gp120-vaccinated and -challenged animal were more resistant to neutralization by the chimpanzee's own serum than viruses isolated from the naive infected animal, indicating immune pressure as the selective mechanism. However, all reisolated viruses were 16- to 256-fold more neutralization resistant than the inoculum virus to antibodies binding to the third variable domain (V3) of the HIV-1 external envelope. Early chimpanzee serum samples that neutralized the inoculum strain but not the reisolated viruses were found to bind an HIV-1 IIIB common nonapeptide (IQRGPGRAF) derived from the gp120 isolate-specific V3 domain shown to induce isolate-specific neutralization in other animals. Amplification of the V3 coding sequence by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequence analysis of the neutralization-resistant variants obtained from in vivo-infected animals indicated that early resistance to neutralization by an HIV-1 IIIB monoclonal antibody (0.5 beta) was conferred by changes outside the direct binding site for the selective neutralizing antibody. The reisolated neutralization-resistant isolates consisted of the lower-replication-competent virus subpopulations of the HIV-1 IIIB stock, as confirmed by biological and sequence analyses. In vitro passage of the HIV-1 IIIB stock through chimpanzee and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures void of HIV-specific antibody resulted in homogenic amplification of the more-replication-competent subpopulation preexisting in the original viral stock, suggesting a role for the immune system in suppressing the more-replication-competent viruses.

Immune response to immunostimulatory complexes (ISCOMs) prepared from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or the HIV-1 external envelope glycoprotein (gp120).

In mice, immunostimulatory complexes (ISCOMs) prepared from HIV-1 B external envelope glycoprotein (gp120) induced 10-fold higher antibody titres than gp120 emulsified in depot adjuvant, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rhesus monkeys immunized with gp120 ISCOMs produced precipitating and virus neutralizing antibody titres equivalent to those seen in HIV-infected chimpanzees and humans. After multiple immunizations with HIV-1 B gp120 ISCOMs, a rhesus monkey developed a neutralizing response to the HIV-1 isolates RF and MN, but not to the CC isolate. Antisera from ISCOM-immunized rhesus monkeys recognized gp120 on the membranes of HIV-1 B-infected H9 cells, indicating the preservation of epitope structure in the ISCOMs matrix.

Purified envelope glycoproteins from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants induce individual, type-specific neutralizing antibodies.

Repeated immunizations of goats, horses, or chimpanzees with envelope glycoprotein gp120 isolated from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) resulted in type-specific neutralizing-antibody responses, which began to decay approximately 20 days following the administration of antigen. This was true repeatedly for serum samples from animals hyperimmunized with gp120s from either the HTLV-IIIB (IIIB) or the envelope-divergent HTLV-IIIRF (RF) HIV-1 isolates. Animals previously immunized with the IIIB gp120 were then inoculated with purified RF gp120. The first response in these animals was an anamnestic resurgence of neutralizing antibody to IIIB without detectable neutralizing antibody for RF. However, with later RF gp120 boosts, the IIIB neutralizing-antibody titers fell and an RF type-specific neutralizing-antibody response developed. When assessed with other HIV-1 variants, no group-specific neutralizing antibody was seen in any of the vaccination protocols evaluated. These results will pose real obstacles in the development of an effective vaccine for HIV.

Purification and characterization of the external envelope glycoprotein from two human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants, HTLV-IIIB and HTLV-IIIRF.

External envelope glycoprotein from cell membranes and culture media of H9 cells infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate HTLV-IIIRF was isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography and compared with similar materials isolated from another variant, HTLV-IIIB. Envelope glycoprotein from IIIB and IIIRF appears to be identical, whether isolated from infected cell membranes or culture media. The molecular size of the IIIRF external envelope glycoprotein was 110 kilodaltons, whereas the relative size of IIIB gp120 was 123 kilodaltons. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of purified external envelope glycoprotein isolated from infected cell membranes or culture fluids revealed identical single sequences for the first 20 amino acids for each variant. The sequences obtained for IIIB gp120 were identical to those reported for the BH10 clone of the IIIB isolate, and the sequences determined for IIIRF gp110 matched the amino acid sequence predicted for the HAT3 clone of the Haitian HIV isolate. The amino-terminal sequences of external envelope glycoproteins isolated from either HIV-1 variant corresponded to the sequence starting at the proposed proteolytic cleavage site for the processing of the signal peptide of gp160. Immunization with external envelope glycoprotein isolated from either of the two HIV-1 variants yielded goat antibodies that primarily precipitated the homologous antigen. Sequential immunization of a single goat with gp120 and then gp110 resulted in the generation of antibodies that precipitated external envelope glycoprotein from both variants.

Characterization of the serological cross-reactivity between glycoproteins of the human immunodeficiency virus and equine infectious anaemia virus.

The reported serological relatedness between the major glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV gp120) and equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV gp90) was examined using purified antigens in radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunoblot assays with reference serum from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, an anti-gp120 goat serum and EIAV-infected horse serum. To assess the contributions of glycoprotein oligosaccharide and peptide components to any observed reactivities, antigens treated with endoglycosidase F to remove carbohydrate were assayed in parallel with the intact glycoprotein. The results of the experiments indicated that the reactivity observed for each antigen was dependent on the immunoassay employed. The RIP and RIA analyses demonstrated that HIV gp120 is equally reactive with the AIDS patient serum, the goat anti-gp120 serum and the EIAV-infected horse serum, whereas the EIAV gp90 reacted only with the horse serum. In immunoblot assays, the HIV gp120 reacted with AIDS patient serum, but not with the EIAV-infected horse serum. Deglycosylation of the HIV gp120 evidently increased its reactivity with the AIDS patient serum, had no significant effect on its reactivity with the goat antiserum, and essentially abolished its reactivity with the EIAV reference serum. Thus, it appears that the serological cross-reactivity observed between HIV gp120 and sera from EIAV-infected horses can be attributed to the oligosaccharide rather than the peptide components of the viral glycoprotein. These studies also emphasize the necessity of employing several assay procedures in assessing lentivirus antigenicity.

Antibodies that inhibit fusion of human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells bind a 24-amino acid sequence of the viral envelope, gp120.

Antisera to recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proteins containing the entire envelope, gp160, or the central portion of the envelope, PB1, can inhibit fusion of virally infected cells in culture. This fusion inhibition is HIV-variant specific--that is, anti-gp160-IIIB inhibits fusion of isolate HTLV-IIIB-infected cells but not of isolate HTLV-IIIRF-infected cells. Both anti-gp160 and anti-PB1 are completely blocked in fusion inhibition activity by the addition of PB1 protein. A 24-amino acid peptide (RP135, amino acids 307-330) completely blocks fusion inhibition activity of both antisera and also blocks the activity of serum from a chimpanzee infected with HTLV-IIIB. Thus, the principal epitope that elicits fusion-inhibiting antibodies is located in the central portion of gp120.

The development of an AIDS vaccine: progress and promise.

The development of a safe and effective vaccine against infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is of paramount importance to the prevention of AIDS worldwide. Although a great deal has been learned about HIV in a few short years, the development of an AIDS vaccine has proved to be extremely difficult. The lack of an appropriate animal model for AIDS, the absence of a defined protective immune response in persons infected with HIV, the long latent period between initial infection and the development of symptoms, the existence of multiple strains of HIV, and the spread of HIV by way of cell-associated virus are issues that complicate the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. Researchers are employing a multifaceted approach to the creation of a potential AIDS vaccine. These approaches include the use of killed or attenuated virus, purified natural or synthetic subunits of the virus, infectious recombinant viruses, and anti-idiotypes. The first clinical trial of a subunit AIDS vaccine began in September 1987 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Through support of basic research on AIDS vaccine development and the establishment of a mechanism for clinical trials of candidate vaccines, NIH is pursuing multiple approaches toward the goal of a vaccine against AIDS.

Partial purification of native HIV transmembrane protein gp41: generation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.

We partially purified the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) glycoprotein gp41 from infected H9 cells by immunoaffinity chromatography using a column containing the M25 monoclonal antibody (diMarzo-Veronese et al., 1985). A pH 11.5 buffer worked best for eluting the glycoprotein from this column. The eluted gp41 was used in a sensitive slot blot immunoassay to detect antibodies to HIV in human sera and to prepare rabbit polyclonal antibodies and the 41-1S mouse monoclonal antibody. These antibodies reacted with gp41 in immunoprecipitation and in Western blot assays, but did not neutralize HIV in a syncytium-forming microassay. A pH 2.5 buffer was found to be the most effective solution for eluting gp41 from a 41-1S monoclonal antibody column.

Microinjection and expression of an infectious proviral clone and subgenomic envelope construct of a human immunodeficiency virus.

An infectious proviral clone of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was microinjected into the cell nucleus in six cell lines derived from caprine, ovine, bovine, or human solid tissue to study the utility of this method in effecting viral gene expression in nonlymphoid cells. Immunofluorescence assays for HIV demonstrated viral gene expression in only 5% of cells (100-200 cells per line) 24-48 h after microinjection; however, no reverse transcriptase activity was detectable, presumably due to a low level of virus release in this limited number of cells. Therefore, to indirectly assess infectious virus release, microinjected cells were cocultured with human T4 antigen-positive lymphocytes (H9) sensitive to HIV infection. Syncytia formation, electron microscopy, reverse transcriptase activity, and radioimmunoassay for HIV p24 were used to monitor viral gene expression in cocultures. HIV was efficiently recovered by cocultivating H9 with microinjected cells 48 h after microinjection, regardless of the tissue type or species of origin. H9 syncytia were visualized in some cocultures as early as day 5 but were readily apparent in all experiments on days 7-10. Syncytia induction in H9 was the earliest and most reliable indicator of infectious virus release. A recombinant construct containing a subgenomic envelope gene derived from the proviral clone of HIV was microinjected into human glioblastoma cells. Twenty-four to 48 h after manipulation, 5-20% of microinjected cells were found by immunofluorescence assay to express low levels of a putative gp120. These results suggest a possible approach to producing virus-free HIV envelope antigens in mammalian cells and may be relevant to subunit vaccine development.

Persistent infection of chimpanzees with human immunodeficiency virus: serological responses and properties of reisolated viruses.

Persistent infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in the chimpanzee may be valuable for immunopathologic and potential vaccine evaluation. Two HIV strains, the tissue culture-derived human T-cell lymphotropic virus type IIIB (HTLV-IIIB) and in vivo serially passaged lymphadenopathy-associated virus type 1 (LAV-1), were injected intravenously into chimpanzees. Two animals received HTLV-IIIB as either virus-infected H9 cells or cell-free virus. A third animal received chimpanzee-passaged LAV-1. Evaluation of their sera for virus-specific serologic changes, including neutralizations, was done during a 2-year period. During this period all animals had persistently high titers of antibodies to viral core and envelope antigens. All three animals developed a progressively increasing type-specific neutralizing LAV-1 versus HTLV-IIIB antibody titer during the 2-year observation period which broadened in specificity to include HTLV-HIRF, HTLV-IIIMN, and HTLV-IIICC after 6 to 12 months. The antibody titers against both viruses were still increasing by 2 years after experimental virus inoculation. Sera from all animals were capable of neutralizing both homologously and heterologously reisolated virus from chimpanzees. A slightly more rapid type-specific neutralizing response was noted for the animal receiving HTLV-IIIB-infected cells compared with that for cell-free HTLV-IIIB. Sera from all persistently infected chimpanzees were capable of mediating group-specific antibody-mediated complement-dependent cytolysis of HIV-infected cells derived from all isolates tested. Viruses reisolated from all three animals at 20 months after inoculation revealed very similar peptide maps of their respective envelope gp120s, as determined by two-dimensional chymotrypsin oligopeptide analysis. One peptide, however, from the original HTLV-IIIB-inoculated virus was deleted in viruses from all three animals, and in addition, we noted the appearance of a new or modified peptide which was common to LAV-1 as well as to HTLV-IIIB reisolated from infected chimpanzees. It thus appears that a group-specific neutralizing antibody response as well as a group-specific cytotoxic response can develop in chimpanzees after an inoculation of a single HIV variant. This finding suggests that a common, less immunodominant determinant(s) is present on a single HIV strain which could induce group-specific antibodies during viral infection and replication. The identification of this group-specific epitope and the induction of analogous immunity may be relevant to vaccine development against human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Absence of cytotoxic antibody to human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells in humans and its induction in animals after infection or immunization with purified envelope glycoprotein gp120.

The presence of antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytotoxicity (ACC) was assessed in humans and chimpanzees, which are capable of infection with human immunodeficiency virus isolate HTLV-IIIb, and examined in the goat after immunization with the major viral glycoprotein (gp120) of HTLV-IIIb. In infected humans no antibody mediating ACC was observed regardless of the status of disease. Even healthy individuals with high-titer, broadly reactive, neutralizing antibodies had no ACC. In contrast, chimpanzees infected with HTLV-IIIb, from whom virus could be isolated, not only had neutralizing antibody but also antibodies broadly reactive in ACC, even against distantly related human immunodeficiency virus isolates, as well as against their own reisolated virus. In the goat, the gp120 of HTLV-IIIb induced a highly type-specific response as measured by both ACC and flow cytofluorometry of live infected H9 cells. Normal human cells were not subject to ACC by animal anti-HTLV-III gp120-specific sera. Induction of ACC and neutralizing antibody were closely correlated in the animal experimental models but not in humans. The presence of ACC in gp120-inoculated goats and HTLV-III-infected chimpanzees represents a qualitative difference that may be important in the quest for the elicitation of a protective immunity in humans.

Helper T-cell antigenic site identification in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus gp120 envelope protein and induction of immunity in mice to the native protein using a 16-residue synthetic peptide.

Much effort has been devoted to the analysis of antibodies to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus antigens, but no studies, to our knowledge, have defined antigenic sites of this virus that elicit T-cell immunity, even though such immunity is important in protection against many other viruses. T cells tend to recognize only a limited number of discrete sites on a protein antigen. Analysis of immunodominant helper T-cell sites has suggested that such sites tend to form amphipathic helices. An algorithm based on this model was used to identify two candidate T-cell sites, env T1 and env T2, in the envelope protein of human T-lymphotropic virus type IIIB that were conserved in other human immunodeficiency virus isolates. Corresponding peptides were synthesized and studied in genetically defined inbred and F1 mice for induction of lymph node proliferation. After immunization with a 426-residue recombinant envelope protein fragment, significant responses to native gp 120, as well as to each peptide, were observed in both F1 combinations studied. Conversely, immunization with env T1 peptide induced T-cell immunity to the native gp 120 envelope protein. The genetics of the response to env T1 peptide were further examined and revealed a significant response in three of four independent major histocompatibility haplotypes tested, an indication of high frequency responsiveness in the population. Identification of helper T-cell sites should facilitate development of a highly immunogenic, carrier-free vaccine that induces T-cell and B-cell immunity. The ability to elicit T-cell immunity to the native viral protein by immunization with a 16-residue peptide suggests that such sites represent potentially important components of an effective vaccine for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Direct identification of class II histocompatibility DR proteins in preparations of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III.

Class II histocompatibility DR antigen alpha and beta chains were isolated from preparations of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III grown in human H-9 cells. The proteins were purified by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and identified by direct N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of each chain. The purified DR alpha chain had an N-terminal amino acid sequence identical to the known sequence of human DR alpha chain through the first 37 residues. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified DR beta chain was identical to that of human DR4 beta chain. The DR alpha and beta chains appeared to be identical to the p34-36K and p30-32K proteins, respectively, concentrated in immunostimulatory complexes prepared from unfractionated virus and were the major immunogens in these complexes. These proteins represent a ready source of antigens which can cause false-positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reactions in individuals previously exposed to allogenic histocompatibility antigens. The removal of the DR chains from virus preparations by use of available monoclonal antibodies or other means should result in a lower rate of initial false-positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reactions.

Lipoprotein-associated oncornavirus-inactivating factor in the genus Mus: effects on murine leukemia viruses of laboratory and exotic mice.

High titers of oncornavirus-inactivating factor (OIF) were found previously in sera of laboratory mice. OIF is highly active against mouse xenotropic and polytropic envelope recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) but not against ecotropic MuLVs. Of the 20 different mouse species or subspecies currently tested, that represent 4 subgenera, no OIF was found in the 3 subgenera more distant to the laboratory mouse. In the subgenus Mus, 7 of the 8 most distant species had no OIF, whereas all the ancestral species and subspecies of the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus musculus, Mus musculus domesticus), including a more distant member (Mus musculus cookii), had ample titers of OIF. A new separation technique was devised so that potential virus-neutralizing immunoglobulins could be separated by electrophoresis from OIF in small-volume serum samples. Active OIF was recovered from serum high-density lipoprotein, from very-low-density lipoprotein, as well as from chylomicron fractions. Murine sarcoma virus pseudotypes were made with several available exotic MuLV types. These pseudotype MuLVs were not susceptible to standard OIF preparations. The sera of exotic mice also had no factor analogous to OIF which would inactivate their own homologous or heterologous exotic MuLVs. It appears that, with one exception, OIF activity is limited to two subspecies of M. musculus and may be correlated in these subspecies with the presence of endogenous xenotropic MuLVs.

Restricted neutralization of divergent HTLV-III/LAV isolates by antibodies to the major envelope glycoprotein.

By analogy to other retroviruses, the major envelope glycoprotein - gp120 - of HTLV-III/LAV is a probable target for neutralizing antibody. This antigen has been purified from H9 cells chronically infected with the HTLV-IIIB prototype strain. Several goats immunized with the gp120 produced antibodies that neutralized infection of H9 by the homologous virus isolate. These same sera failed to neutralize the divergent HTLV-IIIRF isolate. Individuals infected with HTLV-III/LAV commonly develop antibodies to gp120 which could be isolated using the gp120 antigen coupled to an immunoadsorbent resin. The antibody fraction that bound tightly to such a resin was found to neutralize the IIIB but not the RF isolate in a fashion similar to that of the goat anti-gp120 sera. However, the nonbinding fraction (effluent) from the resin also contained neutralizing activity which was able to block infection by both virus isolates with similar efficacy. Human antibodies to the other virus envelope gene product, the transmembrane gp41, were also affinity-purified utilizing the recombinant peptide 121, but they failed to influence infection by either virus isolate.

Purification of 120,000 dalton envelope glycoprotein from culture fluids of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected H9 cells.

The outer envelope glycoprotein, gp120, has been purified from large volumes (greater than 100 liters) of HTLV-IIIB-infected H9 cell culture fluids using immunoaffinity chromatography resins prepared from immunoglobulins of AIDS patients plasma. By using a single-step immunoaffinity purification, between 7 and 28 micrograms of gp120 was recovered from each liter of culture fluid which represented between 60 and 95% of the total envelope glycoprotein present in the fluid. Envelope glycoprotein in culture media was concentrated more than 10,000 times over the starting material. The water-soluble gp120, containing trace contaminating proteins, was purified to apparent homogeneity by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Envelope glycoprotein purified from culture fluids was immunogenic in laboratory animals in both native and PAGE-purified forms and was reactive with AIDS patient sera in immunoassays.

Rapid assessment of relationships among HIV isolates by oligopeptide analyses of external envelope glycoproteins.

The most variable proteins, the gp120's, of the many isolates of HIV-I can be readily compared by two-dimensional oligopeptide maps. The gp120 in a given cell line is completely stable, but the cell line defines the actual gp120 size and may induce minor peptide changes. HTLV-IIIB and LAV differ slightly from each other even when grown in the same cell line, while LAV grown in a B cell line is less related. Molecularly distant isolates have unique patterns. While anti-HTLV-IIIB gp120 antibody neutralized both HTLV-IIIB and LAV, it recognizes only the homologous HTLV-IIIB infected cells in cytotoxicity assays. Structural analysis of isolates should be helpful in defining the range of immunological reactivities among variants as a contribution to a rational approach to a vaccine against AIDS.