Herpesvirus Saimiri-Transformed Human CD4(+) T-Cell Lines: an Efficient Target Cell System for the Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific Cytotoxic CD8(+) T-Lymphocyte Activity

Herpesvirus saimiri growth-transformed human CD4(+) T lymphocytes were examined for their suitability as a target cell system for investigating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific HLA class I-restricted cytotoxic T-cell activity. Besides CD4, they express the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4, the common coreceptors of HIV. They are infectible by a range of HIV strains, including primary isolates, becoming efficient targets for CD8-positive HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.