HIV-1 Tat exhibits clade-specific cytokine induction in monocytes. We investigated if Tat clades A-D can alter tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- and interferon (IFN)- production by total and V9V2 T cells in vitro. Tat clade B, but not C, augmented TNF- production by THP-1 cells. However, Tat clades A-D did not affect TNF- or IFN- production or secretion by resting or activated conventional and V9V2 T cells. Therefore, transactivation of cytokines by Tat is immune cell-specific.