Challenges and opportunities of using adoptive T-cell therapy as part of an HIV cure strategy

Y Zhou, CR Maldini, J Jadlowsky… - The Journal of Infectious …, 2021 - academic.oup.com
Y Zhou, CR Maldini, J Jadlowsky, JL Riley
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2021academic.oup.com
HIV-infected individuals successfully controlling viral replication via antiretroviral therapy
often have a compromised HIV-specific T-cell immune response due to the lack of CD4 T-
cell help, viral escape, T-cell exhaustion, and reduction in numbers due to the withdrawal of
cognate antigen. A successful HIV cure strategy will likely involve a durable and potent
police force that can effectively recognize and eliminate remaining virus that may emerge
decades after an individual undergoes an HIV cure regimen. T cells are ideally suited to …
Abstract
HIV-infected individuals successfully controlling viral replication via antiretroviral therapy often have a compromised HIV-specific T-cell immune response due to the lack of CD4 T-cell help, viral escape, T-cell exhaustion, and reduction in numbers due to the withdrawal of cognate antigen. A successful HIV cure strategy will likely involve a durable and potent police force that can effectively recognize and eliminate remaining virus that may emerge decades after an individual undergoes an HIV cure regimen. T cells are ideally suited to serve in this role, but given the state of the HIV-specific T-cell response, it is unclear how to best restore HIV-specific T-cell activity prior initiation of a HIV cure strategy. Here, we review several strategies of generating HIV-specific T cells ex vivo that are currently being tested in the clinic and discuss how infused T cells can be part of an HIV cure strategy.
Oxford University Press