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Sugiyama FHC, Dietz LL, Søgaard OS. Utilizing immunotherapy towards achieving a functional cure for HIV-1. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:187-193. [PMID: 38686856 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have positively impacted the life expectancy and possibility of living a normal life for people with HIV-1. However, lifelong daily medication is necessary to prevent disease progression. To this end, immunotherapeutic strategies are being tested with the aim of developing a functional cure in which the immune system effectively controls HIV-1 in the absence of ART. RECENT FINDINGS The most promising advances in achieving sustained HIV-1 remission or cure include broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that are administered alone or in combination with other agents. Newer and more innovative approaches redirecting T cells or natural killer cells to kill HIV-1 infected cells have also shown promising results. Finally, multiple ongoing trials focus on combining bNAbs with other immune-directed therapies to enhance both innate and adaptive immunity. SUMMARY While immunotherapies as an alternative to conventional ART have generally proven to be well tolerated, these therapeutic approaches have largely been unsuccessful in inducing ART-free control of HIV-1. However, promising results from recent trials involving bNAbs that have reported durable HIV-1 control among a subset of participants, provide reason for cautious optimism that we with further optimization of these treatment strategies may be able to achieve functional cure for HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrícia Heloisa Cavicchioli Sugiyama
- Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Bromatological Analysis, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lisa Loksø Dietz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole Schmeltz Søgaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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2
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Lewin SR, Lau J. Reduction of HIV reservoir after stem cell transplantation. Lancet HIV 2024; 11:e349-e350. [PMID: 38816139 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(24)00121-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon R Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Infectious Disease, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jillian Lau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Infectious Disease, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Alexandre M, Prague M, Lhomme E, Lelièvre JD, Wittkop L, Richert L, Lévy Y, Thiébaut R. Definition of Virological Endpoints Improving the Design of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Cure Strategies Using Analytical Antiretroviral Treatment Interruption. Clin Infect Dis 2024:ciae235. [PMID: 38819800 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Analytical treatment interruption (ATI) is the gold standard in HIV research for assessing the capability of new therapeutic strategies to control viremia without antiretroviral treatment (ART). The viral setpoint is commonly used as endpoint to evaluate their efficacy. However, in line with recommendations from a consensus meeting, to minimize the risk of increased viremia without ART, trials often implement short ATI phases and stringent virological ART restart criteria. This approach can limit the accurate observation of the setpoint. METHODS We analyzed viral dynamics in 235 people with HIV from 3 trials, examining virological criteria during ATI phases. Time-related (eg time to rebound, peak, and setpoint) and viral load magnitude-related criteria (peak, setpoint, and time-averaged AUC [nAUC]) were described. Spearman correlations were analyzed to identify (1) surrogate endpoints for setpoint and (2) optimal virological ART restart criteria mitigating the risks of ART interruption and the evaluation of viral control. RESULTS Comparison of virological criteria between trials showed strong dependencies on ATI design. Similar correlations were found across trials, with nAUC the most strongly correlated with the setpoint, with correlations >0.70. A threshold >100 000 copies/mL for 2 consecutive measures is requested as a virological ART restart criterion. CONCLUSIONS Our results are in line with recommendations and emphasize the benefits of an ATI phase >12 weeks, with regular monitoring, and a virological ART restart criterion of 10 000 copies/mL to limit the risk for patients while capturing enough information to keep nAUC as an optimal proxy to the setpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Alexandre
- Department of Public Health, University of Bordeaux, Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Inria Statistics in Systems Biology and Translational Medicine (SISTM), Bordeaux, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Mélanie Prague
- Department of Public Health, University of Bordeaux, Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Inria Statistics in Systems Biology and Translational Medicine (SISTM), Bordeaux, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Edouard Lhomme
- Department of Public Health, University of Bordeaux, Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Inria Statistics in Systems Biology and Translational Medicine (SISTM), Bordeaux, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
- Department of Medical information, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Daniel Lelièvre
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
- Inserm U955, Créteil, France
- AP-HP, Hôpital Henri-Mondor Albert-Chenevier, Service d'Immunologie Clinique et Maladies Infectieuses, Créteil, France
| | - Linda Wittkop
- Department of Public Health, University of Bordeaux, Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Inria Statistics in Systems Biology and Translational Medicine (SISTM), Bordeaux, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
- Department of Medical information, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Laura Richert
- Department of Public Health, University of Bordeaux, Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Inria Statistics in Systems Biology and Translational Medicine (SISTM), Bordeaux, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
- Department of Medical information, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yves Lévy
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
- Inserm U955, Créteil, France
- AP-HP, Hôpital Henri-Mondor Albert-Chenevier, Service d'Immunologie Clinique et Maladies Infectieuses, Créteil, France
| | - Rodolphe Thiébaut
- Department of Public Health, University of Bordeaux, Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Inria Statistics in Systems Biology and Translational Medicine (SISTM), Bordeaux, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
- Department of Medical information, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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4
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Bone B, Lichterfeld M. "Block and lock" viral integration sites in persons with drug-free control of HIV-1 infection. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:110-115. [PMID: 38457193 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Elite controllers (ECs) and Posttreatment controllers (PTCs) represent a small subset of individuals who are capable of maintaining drug-free control of HIV plasma viral loads despite the persistence of a replication-competent viral reservoir. This review aims to curate recent experimental studies evaluating viral reservoirs that distinguish EC/PTC and may contribute to their ability to maintain undetectable viral loads in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies on ECs have demonstrated that integration sites of intact proviruses in EC/PTC are markedly biased towards heterochromatin regions; in contrast, intact proviruses in accessible and permissive chromatin were profoundly underrepresented. Of note, no such biases were noted when CD4 + T cells from EC were infected directly ex vivo, suggesting that the viral reservoir profile in EC is not related to altered integration site preferences during acute infection, but instead represents the result of immune-mediated selection mechanisms that can eliminate proviruses in transcriptionally-active euchromatin regions while promoting preferential persistence of intact proviruses in nonpermissive genome regions. Proviral transcription in such "blocked and locked" regions may be restricted through epigenetic mechanisms, protecting them from immune-recognition but presumably limiting their ability to drive viral rebound. While the exact immune mechanisms driving this selection process remain undefined, recent single-cell analytic approaches support the hypothesis that HIV reservoir cells are subject to immune selection pressure by host factors. SUMMARY A "blocked and locked" viral reservoir profile may constitute a structural virological correlate of a functional cure of HIV-1 infection. Further research into the immunological mechanism promoting HIV-1 reservoir selection and evolution in EC/PTC is warranted and could inform foreseeable cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Bone
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham Women's Hospital, Boston
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mathias Lichterfeld
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham Women's Hospital, Boston
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Mudd JC. Quantitative and Qualitative Distinctions between HIV-1 and SIV Reservoirs: Implications for HIV-1 Cure-Related Studies. Viruses 2024; 16:514. [PMID: 38675857 PMCID: PMC11054464 DOI: 10.3390/v16040514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The persistence of the latent viral reservoir is the main hurdle to curing HIV-1 infection. SIV infection of non-human primates (NHPs), namely Indian-origin rhesus macaques, is the most relevant and widely used animal model to evaluate therapies that seek to eradicate HIV-1. The utility of a model ultimately rests on how accurately it can recapitulate human disease, and while reservoirs in the NHP model behave quantitatively very similar to those of long-term suppressed persons with HIV-1 (PWH) in the most salient aspects, recent studies have uncovered key nuances at the clonotypic level that differentiate the two in qualitative terms. In this review, we will highlight differences relating to proviral intactness, clonotypic structure, and decay rate during ART between HIV-1 and SIV reservoirs and discuss the relevance of these distinctions in the interpretation of HIV-1 cure strategies. While these, to some degree, may reflect a unique biology of the virus or host, distinctions among the proviral landscape in SIV are likely to be shaped significantly by the condensed timeframe of NHP studies. ART is generally initiated earlier in the disease course, and animals are virologically suppressed for shorter periods before receiving interventions. Because these are experimental variables dictated by the investigator, we offer guidance on study design for cure-related studies performed in the NHP model. Finally, we highlight the case of GS-9620 (Vesatolimod), an antiviral TLR7 agonist tested in multiple independent pre-clinical studies in which virological outcomes may have been influenced by study-related variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph C. Mudd
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Pieren DKJ, Benítez-Martínez A, Genescà M. Targeting HIV persistence in the tissue. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:69-78. [PMID: 38169333 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The complex nature and distribution of the HIV reservoir in tissue of people with HIV remains one of the major obstacles to achieve the elimination of HIV persistence. Challenges include the tissue-specific states of latency and viral persistence, which translates into high levels of reservoir heterogeneity. Moreover, the best strategies to reach and eliminate these reservoirs may differ based on the intrinsic characteristics of the cellular and anatomical reservoir to reach. RECENT FINDINGS While major focus has been undertaken for lymphoid tissues and follicular T helper cells, evidence of viral persistence in HIV and non-HIV antigen-specific CD4 + T cells and macrophages resident in multiple tissues providing long-term protection presents new challenges in the quest for an HIV cure. Considering the microenvironments where these cellular reservoirs persist opens new venues for the delivery of drugs and immunotherapies to target these niches. New tools, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, CRISPR screenings, mRNA technology or tissue organoids are quickly developing and providing detailed information about the complex nature of the tissue reservoirs. SUMMARY Targeting persistence in tissue reservoirs represents a complex but essential step towards achieving HIV cure. Combinatorial strategies, particularly during the early phases of infection to impact initial reservoirs, capable of reaching and reactivating multiple long-lived reservoirs in the body may lead the path.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan K J Pieren
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
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Grasberger P, Sondrini AR, Clayton KL. Harnessing immune cells to eliminate HIV reservoirs. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:62-68. [PMID: 38167784 PMCID: PMC10908255 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite decades of insights about how CD8 + T cells and natural killer (NK) cells contribute to natural control of infection, additional hurdles (mutational escape from cellular immunity, sequence diversity, and hard-to-access tissue reservoirs) will need to be overcome to develop a cure. In this review, we highlight recent findings of novel mechanisms of antiviral cellular immunity and discuss current strategies for therapeutic deisgn. RECENT FINDINGS Of note are the apparent converging roles of viral antigen-specific MHC-E-restricted CD8 + T cells and NK cells, interleukin (IL)-15 biologics to boost cytotoxicity, and broadly neutralizing antibodies in their native form or as anitbody fragments to neutralize virus and engage cellular immunity, respectively. Finally, renewed interest in myeloid cells as relevant viral reservoirs is an encouraging sign for designing inclusive therapeutic strategies. SUMMARY Several studies have shown promise in many preclinical models of disease, including simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/SHIV infection in nonhuman primates and HIV infection in humanized mice. However, each model comes with its own limitations and may not fully predict human responses. We eagerly await the results of clinical trails assessing the efficacy of these strategies to achieve reductions in viral reservoirs, delay viral rebound, or ultimately elicit immune based control of infection without combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Grasberger
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
| | | | - Kiera L. Clayton
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
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Schou MD, Søgaard OS, Rasmussen TA. Clinical trials aimed at HIV cure or remission: new pathways and lessons learned. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:1227-1243. [PMID: 37856845 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2273919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The main barrier to finding a cure against HIV is the latent HIV reservoir, which persists in people living with HIV (PLWH) despite antiretroviral treatment (ART). Here, we discuss recent findings from interventional studies using mono- and combination therapies aimed at enhancing immune-mediated killing of the virus with or without activating HIV from latency. AREAS COVERED We discuss latency reversal agents (LRAs), broadly neutralizing antibodies, immunomodulatory therapies, and studies aimed at inducing apoptosis. EXPERT OPINION The landscape of clinical trials for HIV cure and remission has evolved considerably over the past 10 years. Several novel interventions such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic vaccines, and broadly neutralizing antibodies have been tested either alone or in combination with LRAs but studies have so far not shown a meaningful impact on the frequency of latently infected cells. Immunomodulatory therapies could work differently in the setting of antigen expression, that is, during active viremia, and timing of interventions could therefore, be key to future therapeutic success. Lessons learned from clinical trials aimed at HIV cure indicate that while we are still far from reaching a complete eradication cure of HIV, clinical interventions capable of inducing enhanced control of HIV replication in the absence of ART might be a more feasible goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Dyveke Schou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole Schmeltz Søgaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thomas Aagaard Rasmussen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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