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Feng Q, Li Q, Zhou H, Wang Z, Lin C, Jiang Z, Liu T, Wang D. CRISPR technology in human diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e672. [PMID: 39081515 PMCID: PMC11286548 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene editing is a growing gene engineering technique that allows accurate editing of a broad spectrum of gene-regulated diseases to achieve curative treatment and also has the potential to be used as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of diseases. Gene editing technology, mainly based on clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein systems, which is capable of generating genetic modifications in somatic cells, provides a promising new strategy for gene therapy for a wide range of human diseases. Currently, gene editing technology shows great application prospects in a variety of human diseases, not only in therapeutic potential but also in the construction of animal models of human diseases. This paper describes the application of gene editing technology in hematological diseases, solid tumors, immune disorders, ophthalmological diseases, and metabolic diseases; focuses on the therapeutic strategies of gene editing technology in sickle cell disease; provides an overview of the role of gene editing technology in the construction of animal models of human diseases; and discusses the limitations of gene editing technology in the treatment of diseases, which is intended to provide an important reference for the applications of gene editing technology in the human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Feng
- Laboratory Animal CenterCollege of Animal ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
- Research and Development CentreBaicheng Medical CollegeBaichengChina
| | - Qirong Li
- Laboratory Animal CenterCollege of Animal ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Hengzong Zhou
- Laboratory Animal CenterCollege of Animal ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Zhan Wang
- Laboratory Animal CenterCollege of Animal ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Chao Lin
- School of Grain Science and TechnologyJilin Business and Technology CollegeChangchunChina
| | - Ziping Jiang
- Department of Hand and Foot SurgeryThe First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Tianjia Liu
- Research and Development CentreBaicheng Medical CollegeBaichengChina
| | - Dongxu Wang
- Laboratory Animal CenterCollege of Animal ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
- Department of Hand and Foot SurgeryThe First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
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2
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Sun Y, Wang L. Development of Anti-HIV Therapeutics: From Conventional Drug Discovery to Cutting-Edge Technology. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:887. [PMID: 39065738 PMCID: PMC11280173 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The efforts to discover HIV therapeutics have continued since the first human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patient was confirmed in the 1980s. Ten years later, the first HIV drug, zidovudine (AZT), targeting HIV reverse transcriptase, was developed. Meanwhile, scientists were enlightened to discover new drugs that target different HIV genes, like integrase, protease, and host receptors. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is the most feasible medical intervention to suppress the virus in people with HIV (PWH) and control the epidemic. ART treatment has made HIV a chronic infection rather than a fatal disease, but ART does not eliminate latent reservoirs of HIV-1 from the host cells; strict and life-long adherence to ART is required for the therapy to be effective in patients. In this review, we first discussed the scientific history of conventional HIV drug discovery since scientists need to develop more and more drugs to solve drug-resistant issues and release the side effects. Then, we summarized the novel research technologies, like gene editing, applied to HIV treatment and their contributions to eliminating HIV as a complementary therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lingyun Wang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
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3
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Becerra JC, Hitchcock L, Vu K, Gach JS. Neutralizing the threat: harnessing broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 for treatment and prevention. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2024; 11:207-220. [PMID: 38975023 PMCID: PMC11224682 DOI: 10.15698/mic2024.07.826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) have played a crucial role in elucidating and characterizing neutralization-sensitive sites on the HIV-1 envelope spike and in informing vaccine development. Continual advancements in identifying more potent bnAbs, along with their capacity to trigger antibody-mediated effector functions, coupled with modifications to extend their half-life, position them as promising candidates for both HIV-1 treatment and prevention. While current pharmacological interventions have made significant progress in managing HIV-1 infection and enhancing quality of life, no definitive cure or vaccines have been developed thus far. Standard treatments involve daily oral anti-retroviral therapy, which, despite its efficacy, can lead to notable long-term side effects. Recent clinical trial data have demonstrated encouraging therapeutic and preventive potential for bnAb therapies in both HIV-1-infected individuals and those without the infection. This review provides an overview of the advancements in HIV-1-specific bnAbs and discusses the insights gathered from recent clinical trials regarding their application in treating and preventing HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Becerra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of CaliforniaCA, Irvine, Irvine, 92697USA
| | - Lauren Hitchcock
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of CaliforniaCA, Irvine, Irvine, 92697USA
| | - Khoa Vu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of CaliforniaCA, Irvine, Irvine, 92697USA
| | - Johannes S Gach
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of CaliforniaCA, Irvine, Irvine, 92697USA
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4
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Su H, Mueller A, Goldstein H. Recent advances on anti-HIV chimeric antigen receptor-T-cell treatment to provide sustained HIV remission. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:169-178. [PMID: 38695148 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000858] [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: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Successful sustained remission of HIV infection has been achieved after CCR5Δ32/Δ32 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of leukemia in a small cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH). This breakthrough demonstrated that the goal of curing HIV was achievable. However, the high morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow transplantation limits the routine application of this approach and provides a strong rationale for pursuing alternative strategies for sustained long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free HIV remission. Notably, long-term immune-mediated control of HIV replication observed in elite controllers and posttreatment controllers suggests that potent HIV-specific immune responses could provide sustained ART-free remission in PLWH. The capacity of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells engineered to target malignant cells to induce remission and cure in cancer patients made this an attractive approach to provide PLWH with a potent HIV-specific immune response. Here, we review the recent advances in the design and application of anti-HIV CAR-T-cell therapy to provide a functional HIV cure. RECENT FINDINGS HIV reservoirs are established days after infection and persist through clonal expansion of infected cells. The continuous interaction between latently infected cells and the immune system shapes the landscape of HIV latency and likely contributes to ART-free viral control in elite controllers. CAR-T cells can exhibit superior antiviral activity as compared with native HIV-specific T cells, particularly because they can be engineered to have multiple HIV specificities, resistance to HIV infection, dual costimulatory signaling, immune checkpoint inhibitors, stem cell derivation, CMV TCR coexpression, and tissue homing ligands. These modifications can significantly improve the capacities of anti-HIV CAR-T cells to prevent viral escape, resist HIV infection, and enhance cytotoxicity, persistence, and tissue penetration. Collectively, these novel modifications of anti-HIV CAR-T cell design have increased their capacity to control HIV infection. SUMMARY Anti-HIV CAR-T cells can be engineered to provide potent and sustained in-vitro and in-vivo antiviral function. The combination of anti-HIV CAR-T cells with other immunotherapeutics may contribute to long-term HIV remission in PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Su
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology
| | | | - Harris Goldstein
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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5
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Banda A, Impomeni O, Singh A, Baloch AR, Hu W, Jaijyan DK. Precision in Action: The Role of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas in Gene Therapies. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:636. [PMID: 38932365 PMCID: PMC11209408 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060636] [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: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)-associated enzyme-CAS holds great promise for treating many uncured human diseases and illnesses by precisely correcting harmful point mutations and disrupting disease-causing genes. The recent Food and Drug Association (FDA) approval of the first CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell anemia marks the beginning of a new era in gene editing. However, delivering CRISPR specifically into diseased cells in vivo is a significant challenge and an area of intense research. The identification of new CRISPR/Cas variants, particularly ultra-compact CAS systems with robust gene editing activities, paves the way for the low-capacity delivery vectors to be used in gene therapies. CRISPR/Cas technology has evolved beyond editing DNA to cover a wide spectrum of functionalities, including RNA targeting, disease diagnosis, transcriptional/epigenetic regulation, chromatin imaging, high-throughput screening, and new disease modeling. CRISPR/Cas can be used to engineer B-cells to produce potent antibodies for more effective vaccines and enhance CAR T-cells for the more precise and efficient targeting of tumor cells. However, CRISPR/Cas technology has challenges, including off-target effects, toxicity, immune responses, and inadequate tissue-specific delivery. Overcoming these challenges necessitates the development of a more effective and specific CRISPR/Cas delivery system. This entails strategically utilizing specific gRNAs in conjunction with robust CRISPR/Cas variants to mitigate off-target effects. This review seeks to delve into the intricacies of the CRISPR/Cas mechanism, explore progress in gene therapies, evaluate gene delivery systems, highlight limitations, outline necessary precautions, and scrutinize the ethical considerations associated with its application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrutha Banda
- Department of Biology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing Township, NJ 08618, USA
| | - Olivia Impomeni
- Department of Biology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing Township, NJ 08618, USA
| | - Aparana Singh
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Agartala, Agartala 799046, India;
| | - Abdul Rasheed Baloch
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA;
| | - Wenhui Hu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA;
| | - Dabbu Kumar Jaijyan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA;
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Gendelman HE, Patel M, Panja S, Zaman LA, Yeapuri P, Bhattarai S, Gorantla S, Chang L, Heredia A, Walczak P, Cohen S, Kevadiya B. CCR5 Decorated Rilpivirine Lipid Nanoparticles Build Myeloid Drug Depots Which Sustains Antiretroviral Activities. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4433306. [PMID: 38883780 PMCID: PMC11177988 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4433306/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves the quality of life for those living with the human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1). However, poor compliance reduces ART effectiveness and leads to immune compromise, viral mutations, and disease co-morbidities. A novel drug formulation is made whereby a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) carrying rilpivirine (RPV) is decorated with the C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5). This facilitates myeloid drug depot deposition. Particle delivery to viral reservoirs is tracked by positron emission tomography. The CCR5-mediated RPV LNP cell uptake and retention reduce HIV-1 replication in human monocyte-derived macrophages and infected humanized mice. Focused ultrasound allows the decorated LNP to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and reach brain myeloid cells. These findings offer a role for CCR5-targeted therapeutics in antiretroviral delivery to optimize HIV suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Samuel Cohen
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
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De Nicolò A, Palermiti A, Dispinseri S, Marchetti G, Trunfio M, De Vivo E, D'Avolio A, Muscatello A, Gori A, Rusconi S, Bruzzesi E, Gabrieli A, Bernasconi DP, Bandera A, Nozza S, Calcagno A. Plasma, Intracellular and Lymph Node Antiretroviral Concentrations and HIV DNA Change During Primary HIV Infection: Results from the INACTION P25 Study. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 64:107200. [PMID: 38768738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite its effectiveness, combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) has a limited effect on HIV DNA reservoir, which establishes early during primary HIV infection (PHI) and is maintained by latency, homeostatic T-cells proliferation, and residual replication. This limited effect can be associated with low drug exposure in lymphoid tissues and/or suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The aim of this study was to assess ARV concentrations in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymph nodes (LNs), and their association to HIV RNA and HIV DNA decay during PHI. Participants were randomised to receive standard doses of darunavir/cobicistat (Arm I), dolutegravir (Arm II) or both (Arm III), with a backbone of tenofovir alafenamide and emtricitabine. Total HIV DNA was measured using digital-droplet PCR in PBMCs at baseline, 12 and 48 weeks. Drug concentrations in plasma and PBMCs were determined at 2, 12 and 48 weeks (LNs at 12 weeks) by UHPLC-MS/MS. Seventy-two participants were enrolled, mostly male (n=68), with a median age of 34 years and variable Fiebig stages (V-VI 57.7%, I-II 23.9%, and III-IV 18.3%). Twenty-six patients were assigned to Arm I, 27 to Arm II and 19 to Arm III. After 48 weeks, most patients had undetectable viremia, with minor differences in HIV RNA decay between arms. Patients with Fiebig I-II showed faster HIV RNA and HIV DNA decay. Intracellular tissue penetration was high for nucleoside analogues and low-moderate for darunavir and dolutegravir. Only tenofovir diphosphate concentrations in PBMCs showed correlation with HIV DNA decay. Overall, these results indicate that the timing of treatment initiation and intracellular tenofovir penetration are primary and secondary factors, respectively, affecting HIV reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amedeo De Nicolò
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin.
| | - Alice Palermiti
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin
| | | | - Giulia Marchetti
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan
| | - Mattia Trunfio
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin
| | - Elisa De Vivo
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin
| | - Antonio D'Avolio
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin
| | - Antonio Muscatello
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan
| | - Andrea Gori
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan
| | - Stefano Rusconi
- UOC Malattie Infettive, Ospedale Civile di Legnano, ASST Ovest Milanese, Legnano; University of Milan, Milan
| | | | - Arianna Gabrieli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Ospedale L Sacco, Milan
| | - Davide Paolo Bernasconi
- Bicocca Bioinformatics Biostatistics and Bioimaging Centre - B4 School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza
| | | | - Silvia Nozza
- Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale san Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Calcagno
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin
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8
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Gurrola TE, Effah SN, Sariyer IK, Dampier W, Nonnemacher MR, Wigdahl B. Delivering CRISPR to the HIV-1 reservoirs. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1393974. [PMID: 38812680 PMCID: PMC11133543 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1393974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is well known as one of the most complex and difficult viral infections to cure. The difficulty in developing curative strategies arises in large part from the development of latent viral reservoirs (LVRs) within anatomical and cellular compartments of a host. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/ CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system shows remarkable potential for the inactivation and/or elimination of integrated proviral DNA within host cells, however, delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to infected cells is still a challenge. In this review, the main factors impacting delivery, the challenges for delivery to each of the LVRs, and the current successes for delivery to each reservoir will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore E. Gurrola
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Samuel N. Effah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ilker K. Sariyer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation and Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Will Dampier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael R. Nonnemacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Brian Wigdahl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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9
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Hasler MF, Speck RF, Kadzioch NP. Humanized mice for studying HIV latency and potentially its eradication. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:157-167. [PMID: 38547338 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000855] [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: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW The quest for an HIV cure faces a formidable challenge: the persistent presence of latent viral infections within the cells and tissues of infected individuals. This review provides a thorough examination of discussions surrounding HIV latency, the use of humanized mouse models, and strategies aimed at eliminating the latent HIV reservoir. It explores the hurdles and advancements in understanding HIV pathogenesis, mainly focusing on establishing latent reservoirs in CD4 + T cells and macrophages. Introducing the concepts of functional and sterile cures, the review underscores the indispensable role of humanized mouse models in HIV research, offering crucial insights into the efficacy of cART and the ongoing pursuit of an HIV cure. RECENT FINDINGS Here, we highlight studies investigating molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis related to HIV latency in humanized mice and discuss novel strategies for eradicating latent HIV. Emphasizing the importance of analytical cART interruption in humanized mouse studies to gauge its impact on the latent reservoir accurately, the review underlines the ongoing progress and challenges in harnessing humanized mouse models for HIV research. SUMMARY This review suggests that humanized mice models provide valuable insights into HIV latency and potential eradication strategies, contributing significantly to the quest for an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moa F Hasler
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Mastrangelo A, Gama L, Cinque P. Strategies to target the central nervous system HIV reservoir. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:133-140. [PMID: 38457227 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000847] [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: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW The central nervous system (CNS) is an hotspot for HIV persistence and may be a major obstacle to overcome for curative strategies. The peculiar anatomical, tissular and cellular characteristics of the HIV reservoir in the CNS may need to be specifically addressed to achieve a long-term HIV control without ART. In this review, we will discuss the critical challenges that currently explored curative strategies may face in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), targeting latent HIV in brain-resident myeloid reservoirs, and eliminating the virus without eliciting dangerous neurological adverse events. RECENT FINDINGS Latency reversing agents (LRA), broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNabs), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, and adeno-associated virus 9-vectored gene-therapies cross the BBB with varying efficiency. Although brain penetration is poor for bNAbs, viral vectors for in vivo gene-editing, certain LRAs, and CAR T-cells may reach the cerebral compartment more efficiently. All these approaches, however, may encounter difficulties in eliminating HIV-infected perivascular macrophages and microglia. Safety, including local neurological adverse effects, may also be a concern, especially if high doses are required to achieve optimal brain penetration and efficient brain cell targeting. SUMMARY Targeting the CNS remains a potential problem for the currently investigated HIV curing strategies. In vivo evidence on CNS effectiveness is limited for most of the investigated strategies, and additional studies should be focused on evaluating the interplay between the cerebral HIV reservoir and treatment aiming to achieve an ART-free cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mastrangelo
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Vaudoise (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucio Gama
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Paola Cinque
- Unit of Infectious Diseases and Neurovirology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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11
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Harper J, Betts MR, Lichterfeld M, Müller-Trutwin M, Margolis D, Bar KJ, Li JZ, McCune JM, Lewin SR, Kulpa D, Ávila-Ríos S, Diallo DD, Lederman MM, Paiardini M. Erratum to: Progress Note 2024: Curing HIV; Not in My Lifetime or Just Around the Corner? Pathog Immun 2024; 8:179-222. [PMID: 38505662 PMCID: PMC10949969 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i2.696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i2.665.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Harper
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michael R. Betts
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mathias Lichterfeld
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michaela Müller-Trutwin
- HIV Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - David Margolis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for AIDS Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Katharine J. Bar
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan Z. Li
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph M. McCune
- HIV Frontiers, Global Health Accelerator, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
| | - Sharon R. Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Deanna Kulpa
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Santiago Ávila-Ríos
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Michael M. Lederman
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Mirko Paiardini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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12
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Davis DJ, Yeddula SGR. CRISPR Advancements for Human Health. MISSOURI MEDICINE 2024; 121:170-176. [PMID: 38694604 PMCID: PMC11057861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has emerged as a powerful gene editing technology that is revolutionizing biomedical research and clinical medicine. The CRISPR system allows scientists to rewrite the genetic code in virtually any organism. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR and its clinical applications. We first introduce the CRISPR system and explain how it works as a gene editing tool. We then highlight current and potential clinical uses of CRISPR in areas such as genetic disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, and regenerative medicine. Challenges that need to be addressed for the successful translation of CRISPR to the clinic are also discussed. Overall, CRISPR holds great promise to advance precision medicine, but ongoing research is still required to optimize delivery, efficacy, and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Davis
- Assistant Director - Animal Modeling Core; Assistant Research Professor - Department of Veterinary Pathobiology; and Comparative Medicine Program Faculty, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Sai Goutham Reddy Yeddula
- PhD candidate in the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
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13
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Harper J, Betts MR, Lichterfeld M, Müller-Trutwin M, Margolis D, Bar KJ, Li JZ, McCune JM, Lewin SR, Kulpa D, Ávila-Ríos S, Diallo DD, Lederman MM, Paiardini M. Progress Note 2024: Curing HIV; Not in My Lifetime or Just Around the Corner? Pathog Immun 2024; 8:115-157. [PMID: 38455668 PMCID: PMC10919397 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i2.665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Once a death sentence, HIV is now considered a manageable chronic disease due to the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens with minimal toxicity and a high barrier for genetic resistance. While highly effective in arresting AIDS progression and rendering the virus untransmissible in people living with HIV (PLWH) with undetectable viremia (U=U) [1, 2]), ART alone is incapable of eradicating the "reservoir" of resting, latently infected CD4+ T cells from which virus recrudesces upon treatment cessation. As of 2022 estimates, there are 39 million PLWH, of whom 86% are aware of their status and 76% are receiving ART [3]. As of 2017, ART-treated PLWH exhibit near normalized life expectancies without adjustment for socioeconomic differences [4]. Furthermore, there is a global deceleration in the rate of new infections [3] driven by expanded access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV testing in vulnerable populations, and by ART treatment [5]. Therefore, despite outstanding issues pertaining to cost and access in developing countries, there is strong enthusiasm that aggressive testing, treatment, and effective viral suppression may be able to halt the ongoing HIV epidemic (ie, UNAIDS' 95-95-95 targets) [6-8]; especially as evidenced by recent encouraging observations in Sydney [9]. Despite these promising efforts to limit further viral transmission, for PLWH, a "cure" remains elusive; whether it be to completely eradicate the viral reservoir (ie, cure) or to induce long-term viral remission in the absence of ART (ie, control; Figure 1). In a previous salon hosted by Pathogens and Immunity in 2016 [10], some researchers were optimistic that a cure was a feasible, scalable goal, albeit with no clear consensus on the best route. So, how are these cure strategies panning out? In this commentary, 8 years later, we will provide a brief overview on recent advances and failures towards identifying determinants of viral persistence and developing a scalable cure for HIV. Based on these observations, and as in the earlier salon, we have asked several prominent HIV cure researchers for their perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Harper
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michael R. Betts
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mathias Lichterfeld
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michaela Müller-Trutwin
- HIV Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - David Margolis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for AIDS Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Katharine J. Bar
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan Z. Li
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph M. McCune
- HIV Frontiers, Global Health Accelerator, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
| | - Sharon R. Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Deanna Kulpa
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Santiago Ávila-Ríos
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Michael M. Lederman
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Mirko Paiardini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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Li K, Zhang Q. Eliminating the HIV tissue reservoir: current strategies and challenges. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:165-182. [PMID: 38149977 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2298450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is still one of the most widespread and harmful infectious diseases in the world. The presence of reservoirs housing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represents a significant impediment to the development of clinically applicable treatments on a large scale. The viral load in the blood can be effectively reduced to undetectable levels through antiretroviral therapy (ART), and a higher concentration of HIV is sequestered in various tissues throughout the body, forming the tissue reservoir - the source of viremia after interruption treatment. METHODS We take the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) as a guideline for this review. In June 2023, we used the Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases to search the relevant literature published in the last decade. RESULTS Here we review the current strategies and treatments for eliminating the HIV tissue reservoirs: early and intensive therapy, gene therapy (including ribozyme, RNA interference, RNA aptamer, zinc finger enzyme, transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)), 'Shock and Kill', 'Block and lock', immunotherapy (including therapeutic vaccines, broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy (CAR-T)), and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). CONCLUSION The existence of an HIV reservoir is the main obstacle to the complete cure of AIDS. Choosing the appropriate strategy to deplete the HIV reservoir and achieve a functional cure for AIDS is the focus and difficulty of current research. So far, there has been a lot of research and progress in reducing the HIV reservoir, but in general, the current research is still very preliminary. Much research is still needed to properly assess the reliability, effectiveness, and necessity of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangpeng Li
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Zhang C, Su H, Waight E, Poluektova LY, Gorantla S, Gendelman HE, Dash PK. Accelerated Neuroimmune Dysfunction in Aged HIV-1-Infected Humanized Mice. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:149. [PMID: 38399364 PMCID: PMC10892358 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020149] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Disordered immunity, aging, human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) infection, and responses to antiretroviral therapy are linked. However, how each factor is linked with the other(s) remains incompletely understood. It has been reported that accelerated aging, advanced HIV-1 infection, inflammation, and host genetic factors are associated with host cellular, mitochondrial, and metabolic alterations. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. With these questions in mind, we used chronically HIV-1-infected CD34-NSG humanized mice (hu-mice) to model older people living with HIV and uncover associations between HIV-1 infection and aging. Adult humanized mice were infected with HIV-1 at the age of 20 weeks and maintained for another 40 weeks before sacrifice. Animal brains were collected and subjected to transcriptomics, qPCR, and immunofluorescence assays to uncover immune disease-based biomarkers. CD4+ T cell decline was associated with viral level and age. Upregulated C1QA, CD163, and CXCL16 and downregulated LMNA and CLU were identified as age-associated genes tied to HIV-1 infection. Ingenuity pathway analysis affirmed links to innate immune activation, pyroptosis signaling, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and neuronal dysfunction. In summary, CD34-NSG humanized mice are identified as a valuable model for studying HIV-1-associated aging. Biomarkers of immune senescence and neuronal signaling are both age- and virus-associated. By exploring the underlying biological mechanisms that are linked to these biomarkers, interventions for next generation HIV-1-infected patients can be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Prasanta K. Dash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Dampier W, Berman R, Nonnemacher MR, Wigdahl B. Computational analysis of cas proteins unlocks new potential in HIV-1 targeted gene therapy. Front Genome Ed 2024; 5:1248982. [PMID: 38239625 PMCID: PMC10794619 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1248982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pandemic has been slowed with the advent of anti-retroviral therapy (ART). However, ART is not a cure and as such has pushed the disease into a chronic infection. One potential cure strategy that has shown promise is the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas gene editing system. It has recently been shown to successfully edit and/or excise the integrated provirus from infected cells and inhibit HIV-1 in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. These studies have primarily been conducted with SpCas9 or SaCas9. However, additional Cas proteins are discovered regularly and modifications to these known proteins are being engineered. The alternative Cas molecules have different requirements for protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs) which impact the possible targetable regions of HIV-1. Other modifications to the Cas protein or gRNA handle impact the tolerance for mismatches between gRNA and the target. While reducing off-target risk, this impacts the ability to fully account for HIV-1 genetic variability. Methods: This manuscript strives to examine these parameter choices using a computational approach for surveying the suitability of a Cas editor for HIV-1 gene editing. The Nominate, Diversify, Narrow, Filter (NDNF) pipeline measures the safety, broadness, and effectiveness of a pool of potential gRNAs for any PAM. This technique was used to evaluate 46 different potential Cas editors for their HIV therapeutic potential. Results: Our examination revealed that broader PAMs that improve the targeting potential of editors like SaCas9 and LbCas12a have larger pools of useful gRNAs, while broader PAMs reduced the pool of useful SpCas9 gRNAs yet increased the breadth of targetable locations. Investigation of the mismatch tolerance of Cas editors indicates a 2-missmatch tolerance is an ideal balance between on-target sensitivity and off-target specificity. Of all of the Cas editors examined, SpCas-NG and SPRY-Cas9 had the highest number of overall safe, broad, and effective gRNAs against HIV. Discussion: Currently, larger proteins and wider PAMs lead to better targeting capacity. This implies that research should either be targeted towards delivering longer payloads or towards increasing the breadth of currently available small Cas editors. With the discovery and adoption of additional Cas editors, it is important for researchers in the HIV-1 gene editing field to explore the wider world of Cas editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will Dampier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rachel Berman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael R. Nonnemacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Brian Wigdahl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Su H, Anthony-Gonda K, Orentas RJ, Dropulić B, Goldstein H. Generation of Anti-HIV CAR-T Cells for Preclinical Research. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2807:287-298. [PMID: 38743236 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3862-0_20] [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] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The inability of people living with HIV (PLWH) to eradicate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is due in part to the inadequate HIV-specific cellular immune response. The antiviral function of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, which are crucial for HIV control, is impaired during chronic viral infection because of viral escape mutations, immune exhaustion, HIV antigen downregulation, inflammation, and apoptosis. In addition, some HIV-infected cells either localize to tissue sanctuaries inaccessible to CD8+ T cells or are intrinsically resistant to CD8+ T cell killing. The novel design of synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that enable T cells to target specific antigens has led to the development of potent and effective CAR-T cell therapies. While initial clinical trials using anti-HIV CAR-T cells performed over 20 years ago showed limited anti-HIV effects, the improved CAR-T cell design, which enabled its success in treating cancer, has reinstated CAR-T cell therapy as a strategy for HIV cure with notable progress being made in the recent decade.Effective CAR-T cell therapy against HIV infection requires the generation of anti-HIV CAR-T cells with potent in vivo activity against HIV-infected cells. Preclinical evaluation of anti-HIV efficacy of CAR-T cells and their safety is fundamental for supporting the initiation of subsequent clinical trials in PLWH. For these preclinical studies, we developed a novel humanized mouse model supporting in vivo HIV infection, the development of viremia, and the evaluation of novel HIV therapeutics. Preclinical assessment of anti-HIV CAR-T cells using this mouse model involves a multistep process including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) harvested from human donors, T cell purification, ex vivo T cell activation, transduction with lentiviral vectors encoding an anti-HIV CAR, CAR-T cell expansion and infusion in mice intrasplenically injected with autologous PBMCs followed by the determination of CAR-T cell capacity for HIV suppression. Each of the steps described in the following protocol were optimized in the lab to maximize the quantity and quality of the final anti-HIV CAR-T cell products.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Animals
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Mice
- HIV Infections/immunology
- HIV Infections/therapy
- HIV Infections/virology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- HIV-1/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Transduction, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Su
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Harris Goldstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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Govindaraj S, Babu H, Kannanganat S, Vaccari M, Petrovas C, Velu V. Editorial: CD4+ T cells in HIV: A Friend or a Foe? Front Immunol 2023; 14:1203531. [PMID: 37497218 PMCID: PMC10367341 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1203531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sakthivel Govindaraj
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Hemalatha Babu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sunil Kannanganat
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Monica Vaccari
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Constantinos Petrovas
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vijayakumar Velu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Zhang C, Zaman LA, Poluektova LY, Gorantla S, Gendelman HE, Dash PK. Humanized Mice for Studies of HIV-1 Persistence and Elimination. Pathogens 2023; 12:879. [PMID: 37513726 PMCID: PMC10383313 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A major roadblock to achieving a cure for human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) is the persistence of latent viral infections in the cells and tissue compartments of an infected human host. Latent HIV-1 proviral DNA persists in resting memory CD4+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs; macrophages, microglia, and dendritic cells). Tissue viral reservoirs of both cell types reside in the gut, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, liver, kidney, skin, adipose tissue, reproductive organs, and brain. However, despite the identification of virus-susceptible cells, several limitations persist in identifying broad latent reservoirs in infected persons. The major limitations include their relatively low abundance, the precise identification of latently infected cells, and the lack of biomarkers for identifying latent cells. While primary MP and CD4+ T cells and transformed cell lines are used to interrogate mechanisms of HIV-1 persistence, they often fail to accurately reflect the host cells and tissue environments that carry latent infections. Given the host specificity of HIV-1, there are few animal models that replicate the natural course of viral infection with any precision. These needs underlie the importance of humanized mouse models as both valuable and cost-effective tools for studying viral latency and subsequently identifying means of eliminating it. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of humanized mice for studies of viral persistence and latency with an eye toward using these models to test antiretroviral and excision therapeutics. The goals of this research are to use the models to address how and under which circumstances HIV-1 latency can be detected and eliminated. Targeting latent reservoirs for an ultimate HIV-1 cure is the task at hand.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Prasanta K. Dash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA (S.G.)
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