T. Kerkau, S. Gernert, C. Kneitz, A. Schimpl

• HIV infection of CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes leads to a loss of MHC dass I molecules on the surface of the infected cells as detectable by monodonal antibody staining and flow cytometry. Incubation of the infected cells at 26 oe or treatment at 37 oe with peptides leads to upregulation of MHC dass I to levels equal to those found on uninfected cells cultured und er the same conditions. The data suggest that, after HIV infection, the mechanisms responsible for peptide generation, peptide transport and thus stable association betweenHIV infection of CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes leads to a loss of MHC dass I molecules on the surface of the infected cells as detectable by monodonal antibody staining and flow cytometry. Incubation of the infected cells at 26 oe or treatment at 37 oe with peptides leads to upregulation of MHC dass I to levels equal to those found on uninfected cells cultured und er the same conditions. The data suggest that, after HIV infection, the mechanisms responsible for peptide generation, peptide transport and thus stable association between peptides and MHC dass I molecules are severely affected.…