Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 evades T-helper responses by exploiting antibodies that suppress antigen processing—CHien 2004

T-helper responses are essential for treating persistent viral infections, however most HIV-infected people lack envelope glycoprotein-specific T-helpers. Antibodies against the HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120) CD4-binding domain (CD4bd) decrease T-helper responses, but their mechanisms are unknown (C. E. Hioe et al., J. Virol. 75:10950-10957, 2001). When complexed to anti-CD4bd antibodies, gp120 becomes more resistant to proteolysis by lysosomal enzymes from antigen-presenting cells, preventing major histocompatibility complex class II molecules from efficiently presenting peptide epitopes to gp120-specific CD4 T cells. Other gp120 antibodies have no impact. Thus, HIV may use antibodies to hide virus envelope antigens from T cells to avoid anti-viral T-helper reactions.

Chien, P. C., Jr, Cohen, S., Tuen, M., Arthos, J., Chen, P. D., Patel, S., & Hioe, C. E. (2004). Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 evades T-helper responses by exploiting antibodies that suppress antigen processing. Journal of virology, 78(14), 7645–7652. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.78.14.7645-7652.2004