PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Zhang, Linqi
AU  - Yu, Wenjie
AU  - He, Tian
AU  - Yu, Jian
AU  - Caffrey, Rebecca E.
AU  - Dalmasso, Enrique A.
AU  - Fu, Siyu
AU  - Pham, Thang
AU  - Mei, Jianfeng
AU  - Ho, Jaclyn J.
AU  - Zhang, Wenyong
AU  - Lopez, Peter
AU  - Ho, David D.
TI  - Contribution of Human α-Defensin 1, 2, and 3 to the Anti-HIV-1 Activity of CD8 Antiviral Factor
AID  - 10.1126/science.1076185
DP  - 2002 Nov 01
TA  - Science
PG  - 995--1000
VI  - 298
IP  - 5595
4099  - http://science.sciencemag.org/content/298/5595/995.short
4100  - http://science.sciencemag.org/content/298/5595/995.full
SO  - Science2002 Nov 01; 298
AB  - It has been known since 1986 that CD8 T lymphocytes from certain HIV-1–infected individuals who are immunologically stable secrete a soluble factor, termed CAF, that suppresses HIV-1 replication. However, the identity of CAF remained elusive despite an extensive search. By means of a protein-chip technology, we identified a cluster of proteins that were secreted when CD8 T cells from long-term nonprogressors with HIV-1 infection were stimulated. These proteins were identified as α-defensin 1, 2, and 3 on the basis of specific antibody recognition and amino acid sequencing. CAF activity was eliminated or neutralized by an antibody specific for human α-defensins. Synthetic and purified preparations of α-defensins also inhibited the replication of HIV-1 isolates in vitro. Taken together, our results indicate that α-defensin 1, 2, and 3 collectively account for much of the anti–HIV-1 activity of CAF that is not attributable to β-chemokines.