Immune responses to abacavir in antigen-presenting cells from hypersensitive patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: A potentially life-threatening hypersensitive reaction accompanies the use of HIV nucleoside analogue abacavir (ABC) in 4-8% of Caucasian individuals. HLA-B*5701 and Hsp70 493T alleles have been shown to predict susceptibility to this hypersensitivity. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was undertaken to provide a mechanistic understanding of the highly significant genetic association of HLA Class I and Hsp70 alleles with ABC hypersensitivity. RESULTS: In this study an ABC-induced localization of intracellular HSP70 to endosomal vesicles of antigen-presenting cells was demonstrated. This ABC-stimulated redistribution of endogenous HSP70 was substantially higher in the genetically hom..