1
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Pinkevych M, Docken SS, Okoye AA, Fennessey CM, Del Prete GQ, Pino M, Harper JL, Betts MR, Paiardini M, Keele BF, Davenport MP. Timing of initiation of anti-retroviral therapy predicts post-treatment control of SIV replication. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011660. [PMID: 37801446 PMCID: PMC10558076 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011660] [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] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
One approach to 'functional cure' of HIV infection is to induce durable control of HIV replication after the interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the major factors that determine the viral 'setpoint' level after treatment interruption are not well understood. Here we combine data on ART interruption following SIV infection for 124 total animals from 10 independent studies across 3 institutional cohorts to understand the dynamics and predictors of post-treatment viral control. We find that the timing of treatment initiation is an important determinant of both the peak and early setpoint viral levels after treatment interruption. During the first 3 weeks of infection, every day of delay in treatment initiation is associated with a 0.22 log10 copies/ml decrease in post-rebound peak and setpoint viral levels. However, delay in initiation of ART beyond 3 weeks of infection is associated with higher post-rebound setpoint viral levels. For animals treated beyond 3 weeks post-infection, viral load at ART initiation was the primary predictor of post-rebound setpoint viral levels. Potential alternative predictors of post-rebound setpoint viral loads including cell-associated DNA or RNA, time from treatment interruption to rebound, and pre-interruption CD8+ T cell responses were also examined in the studies where these data were available. This analysis suggests that optimal timing of treatment initiation may be an important determinant of post-treatment control of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mykola Pinkevych
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Steffen S. Docken
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Afam A. Okoye
- Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, and Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Christine M. Fennessey
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gregory Q. Del Prete
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Maria Pino
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Justin L. Harper
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Betts
- Department of Microbiology and Center for AIDS Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mirko Paiardini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine; Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Brandon F. Keele
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Miles P. Davenport
- Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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Zhou C, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Wu H, Zhang T, Chen G, Huang X. Factors associated with post-treatment control of viral load in HIV-infected patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 129:216-227. [PMID: 36707043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.01.025] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with maintenance of viral suppression after antiretroviral therapy (ART) discontinuation. METHODS Databases were searched for studies published between January 01, 2011, and July 01, 2022, that correlated the time of virus rebound with treatment interruption (TI). The corresponding data were extracted from these studies. A fixed-effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates. RESULTS Thirty-one studies were included in this analysis. Results showed that patients who started ART during acute or early infection had longer viral control than those who started ART during chronic infection. It has been reported that some broadly neutralizing HIV-1-specific antibodies can significantly prolong viral inhibition. The study also found that approximately 7.2% of patients achieved post-treatment control (PTC) approximately a year after TI. CONCLUSION ART initiation in the acute or early phases can delay viral rebound after TI. Cell-associated HIV RNA and HIV DNA have been difficult to prove as able to predict viral rebound time. Many vaccines and antibodies have also been shown to be effective in prolonging viral control in people without PTC, and more research is needed to develop alternative ART therapies that can effectively inhibit or even eliminate HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaxin Wu
- Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital of the University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Guanzhi Chen
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Xiaojie Huang
- Clinical and Research Center for Infectious Disease, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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3
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Fajnzylber J, Sharaf R, Hutchinson JN, Aga E, Bosch RJ, Hartogensis W, Jacobson JM, Connick E, Volberding P, Skiest DJ, Margolis D, Sneller MC, Little SJ, Gulick RM, Mellors JW, Gandhi RT, Schooley RT, Henry K, Tebas P, Deeks S, Chun TW, Collier AC, Hecht FM, Li JZ. Frequency of post treatment control varies by antiretroviral therapy restart and viral load criteria. AIDS 2021; 35:2225-2227. [PMID: 34127579 PMCID: PMC8490281 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Clinical trials including an analytical treatment interruption (ATI) are vital for evaluating the efficacy of novel strategies for HIV remissions. We briefly describe an interactive tool for predicting viral rebound timing in ATI trials and the impact of posttreatment controller (PTC) definitions on PTC frequency estimates. A 4-week viral load threshold of 1000 cps/ml provides both high specificity and sensitivity for PTC detection. PTC frequency varies greatly based on the definition of a PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Radwa Sharaf
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | | | - Evgenia Aga
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ronald J Bosch
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | - Paul Volberding
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Daniel J Skiest
- University of Massachusetts-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts
| | - David Margolis
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michael C Sneller
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Susan J Little
- University of Caliornia, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | | | | | - Rajesh T Gandhi
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Keith Henry
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Pablo Tebas
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Steve Deeks
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Tae-Wook Chun
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | - Jonathan Z Li
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
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4
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Li Y, Mohammadi A, Li JZ. Challenges and Promise of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Remission. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:4-12. [PMID: 33586773 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy effectively controls human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication but it is unable to fully eradicate the HIV reservoir and treatment must be life-long. Progress toward a strategy for HIV remission will require overcoming key hurdles to fill gaps in our understanding of HIV persistence, but the identification of individuals who have attained sterilizing or functional HIV cure show that such a goal is achievable. In this review, we first outline challenges in targeting the HIV reservoir, including difficulties identifying HIV-infected cells, ongoing work elucidating the complex intracellular environment that contribute to HIV latency, and barriers to reactivating and clearing the HIV reservoir. We then review reported cases of HIV sterilizing cure and explore natural models of HIV remission and the promise that such HIV spontaneous and posttreatment controllers may hold in our search for a broadly-applicable strategy for the millions of patients living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijia Li
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abbas Mohammadi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan Z Li
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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5
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McMahon J, Lewin SR, Rasmussen TA. Viral, inflammatory, and reservoir characteristics of posttreatment controllers. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2021; 16:249-256. [PMID: 34334614 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000699] [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: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an overview of studies to date that have identified posttreatment controllers (PTCs) and to explore current evidence around clinical characteristics, immune effector function, and inflammatory and viral reservoir characteristics that may underlie the control mechanism. RECENT FINDINGS PTCs are broadly defined as individuals capable of maintaining control of HIV replication after cessation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). While starting ART early after HIV infection is associated with PTC, genetic disposition or CD8+ T-cell function do not appear to explain this phenomenon, but these features have not been exhaustively analyzed in PTCs. A lower frequency of latently infected cells prior to stopping ART has been associated with achieving PTC, including a lower level of intact HIV DNA, but more studies are needed to map the genetic location, epigenetic characteristics, and tissue distribution of the intact HIV reservoir in PTCs. SUMMARY Current studies are small and heterogeneous and there is a significant need to agree on a uniform definition of PTC. Many aspects of PTC are still unexplored including whether specific features of genetic disposition, immune effector functions, and/or viral reservoir characteristics play a role in PTC. A large multisite international cohort study could aide in providing the important insights needed to fully understand PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- James McMahon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Medical Centre
| | - Sharon R Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas A Rasmussen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark
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6
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Pasternak AO, Psomas CK, Berkhout B. Predicting Post-treatment HIV Remission: Does Size of the Viral Reservoir Matter? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:648434. [PMID: 33717047 PMCID: PMC7952863 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.648434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and improves immune function. However, due to the persistence of long-lived HIV reservoirs, therapy interruption almost inevitably leads to a fast viral rebound. A small percentage of individuals who are able to control HIV replication for extended periods after therapy interruption are of particular interest because they may represent a model of long-term HIV remission without ART. These individuals are characterized by a limited viral reservoir and low reservoir measures can predict post-treatment HIV remission. However, most individuals with a low reservoir still experience fast viral rebound. In this Perspective, we discuss the possible reasons behind this and propose to develop an integral profile, composed of viral and host biomarkers, that could allow the accurate prediction of post-treatment HIV remission. We also propose to incorporate information on the chromatin context of the proviral integration sites into the characterization of the HIV reservoir, as this likely influences the reactivation capacity of latent proviruses and, together with the actual number of intact proviruses, contributes to the replication competence of the reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander O Pasternak
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christina K Psomas
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine, European Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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7
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Adams P, Fievez V, Schober R, Amand M, Iserentant G, Rutsaert S, Dessilly G, Vanham G, Hedin F, Cosma A, Moutschen M, Vandekerckhove L, Seguin-Devaux C. CD32 +CD4 + memory T cells are enriched for total HIV-1 DNA in tissues from humanized mice. iScience 2020; 24:101881. [PMID: 33364576 PMCID: PMC7753142 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
CD32 has raised conflicting results as a putative marker of the HIV-1 reservoir. We measured CD32 expression in tissues from viremic and virally suppressed humanized mice treated relatively early or late after HIV-1 infection with combined antiretroviral therapy. CD32 was expressed in a small fraction of the memory CD4+ T-cell subsets from different tissues in viremic and aviremic mice, regardless of treatment initiation time. CD32+ memory CD4+ T cells were enriched in cell-associated (CA) HIV-1 DNA but not in CA HIV-1 RNA as compared to the CD32−CD4+ fraction. Using multidimensional reduction analysis, several memory CD4+CD32+ T-cell clusters were identified expressing HLA-DR, TIGIT, or PD-1. Importantly, although tissue-resident CD32+CD4+ memory cells were enriched with translation-competent reservoirs, most of it was detected in memory CD32-CD4+ T cells. Our findings support that CD32 labels highly activated/exhausted memory CD4+ T-cell subsets that contain only a small proportion of the translation-competent reservoir. CD32 is rarely expressed in memory CD4+T cells in humanized mice infected with HIV-1 Tissue-resident CD32+CD4+ memory T cells are enriched for HIV-1 DNA but not for RNA CD32+CD4+ memory cells are enriched for translation-competent reservoirs CD32 labels highly activated/exhausted memory T-cell subsets in tissues
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Adams
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette 4354, Luxembourg.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
| | - Virginie Fievez
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette 4354, Luxembourg
| | - Rafaëla Schober
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette 4354, Luxembourg
| | - Mathieu Amand
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette 4354, Luxembourg
| | - Gilles Iserentant
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette 4354, Luxembourg
| | - Sofie Rutsaert
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Géraldine Dessilly
- AIDS Reference Laboratory, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels 1348, Belgium
| | - Guido Vanham
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp 2000, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
| | - Fanny Hedin
- Quantitative Biology Unit, National Cytometry Platform, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4354, Luxembourg
| | - Antonio Cosma
- Quantitative Biology Unit, National Cytometry Platform, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4354, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Moutschen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Liège, CHU de Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Linos Vandekerckhove
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Carole Seguin-Devaux
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette 4354, Luxembourg
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8
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Zhang Y, Planas D, Raymond Marchand L, Massanella M, Chen H, Wacleche VS, Gosselin A, Goulet JP, Filion M, Routy JP, Chomont N, Ancuta P. Improving HIV Outgrowth by Optimizing Cell-Culture Conditions and Supplementing With all-trans Retinoic Acid. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:902. [PMID: 32499767 PMCID: PMC7243435 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The persistence of replication-competent HIV reservoirs in people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a barrier to cure. Therefore, their accurate quantification is essential for evaluating the efficacy of new therapeutic interventions and orienting the decision to interrupt ART. Quantitative viral outgrowth assays (QVOAs) represent the "gold standard" for measuring the size of replication-competent HIV reservoirs. However, they require large numbers of cells and are technically challenging. This justifies the need for the development of novel simplified methods adapted for small biological samples. Herein, we sought to simplify the viral outgrowth procedure (VOP) by (i) using memory CD4+ T-cells, documented to be enriched in HIV reservoirs (ii) optimizing cell-culture conditions, and (iii) supplementing with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a positive regulator of HIV replication. Memory CD4+ T-cells were sorted from the peripheral blood of ART-treated (HIV+ART; n = 14) and untreated (HIV+; n = 5) PLWH. The VOP was first performed with one original replicate of 1 × 106 cells/well in 48-well plates. Cells were stimulated via CD3/CD28 for 3 days, washed to remove residual CD3/CD28 Abs, split every 3 days for optimal cell density, and cultured in the presence or the absence of ATRA for 12 days. Soluble and intracellular HIV-p24 levels were quantified by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Optimal cell-culture density achieved by splitting improved HIV outgrowth detection. ATRA promoted superior/accelerated detection of replication-competent HIV in all HIV+ART individuals tested, including those with low/undetectable viral outgrowth in the absence of ATRA. Finally, this VOP was used to design a simplified ATRA-based QVOA by including 4 and 6 original replicates of 1 × 106 cells/well in 48-well plates and 2 × 105 cells/well in 96-well plates, respectively. Consistently, the number of infectious units per million cells (IUPM) was significantly increased in the presence of ATRA. In conclusion, we demonstrate that memory CD4+ T-cell splitting for optimal density in culture and ATRA supplementation significantly improved the efficacy of HIV outgrowth in a simplified ATRA-based QVOA performed in the absence of feeder/target cells or indicator cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Zhang
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Delphine Planas
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Marta Massanella
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Huicheng Chen
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vanessa Sue Wacleche
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Annie Gosselin
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Nicolas Chomont
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Petronela Ancuta
- Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)-Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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9
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Abstract
A variety of interventions to induce a functional cure of HIV are being explored, with the aim being to allow patients to cease antiretroviral therapy (ART) for prolonged periods of time or for life. These interventions share the goal of inducing ART-free remission from HIV pathogenesis and disease progression but achieve this in quite different ways, by reducing the size of the latent reservoir (for example, small-molecule stimulation of latently infected cells), reducing the number of target cells available for the virus (for example, gene therapy) or improving immune responses (for example, active or passive immunotherapy). Here, we consider a number of these alternative strategies for inducing post-treatment control of HIV and use mathematical modelling to predict the scale of the challenge inherent in these different approaches. For many approaches, over 99.9% efficacy will likely be required to induce durable ART-free remissions. The efficacy of individual approaches is currently far below what we predict will be necessary, and new technologies to achieve lifelong functional cure are needed.
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10
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Namazi G, Fajnzylber JM, Aga E, Bosch RJ, Acosta EP, Sharaf R, Hartogensis W, Jacobson JM, Connick E, Volberding P, Skiest D, Margolis D, Sneller MC, Little SJ, Gianella S, Smith DM, Kuritzkes DR, Gulick RM, Mellors JW, Mehraj V, Gandhi RT, Mitsuyasu R, Schooley RT, Henry K, Tebas P, Deeks SG, Chun TW, Collier AC, Routy JP, Hecht FM, Walker BD, Li JZ. The Control of HIV After Antiretroviral Medication Pause (CHAMP) Study: Posttreatment Controllers Identified From 14 Clinical Studies. J Infect Dis 2019; 218:1954-1963. [PMID: 30085241 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background HIV posttreatment controllers are rare individuals who start antiretroviral therapy (ART), but maintain HIV suppression after treatment interruption. The frequency of posttreatment control and posttreatment interruption viral dynamics have not been well characterized. Methods Posttreatment controllers were identified from 14 studies and defined as individuals who underwent treatment interruption with viral loads ≤400 copies/mL at two-thirds or more of time points for ≥24 weeks. Viral load and CD4+ cell dynamics were compared between posttreatment controllers and noncontrollers. Results Of the 67 posttreatment controllers identified, 38 initiated ART during early HIV infection. Posttreatment controllers were more frequently identified in those treated during early versus chronic infection (13% vs 4%, P < .001). In posttreatment controllers with weekly viral load monitoring, 45% had a peak posttreatment interruption viral load of ≥1000 copies/mL and 33% had a peak viral load ≥10000 copies/mL. Of posttreatment controllers, 55% maintained HIV control for 2 years, with approximately 20% maintaining control for ≥5 years. Conclusions Posttreatment control was more commonly identified amongst early treated individuals, frequently characterized by early transient viral rebound and heterogeneous durability of HIV remission. These results may provide mechanistic insights and have implications for the design of trials aimed at achieving HIV remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golnaz Namazi
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse M Fajnzylber
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Evgenia Aga
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ronald J Bosch
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Radwa Sharaf
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael C Sneller
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Daniel R Kuritzkes
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Vikram Mehraj
- McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rajesh T Gandhi
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tae-Wook Chun
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Bruce D Walker
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard, Cambridge
| | - Jonathan Z Li
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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11
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Etemad B, Esmaeilzadeh E, Li JZ. Learning From the Exceptions: HIV Remission in Post-treatment Controllers. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1749. [PMID: 31396237 PMCID: PMC6668499 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the top priorities of the HIV field is the search for therapeutic interventions that can lead to sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free HIV remission. Although the majority of HIV-infected persons will experience rapid viral rebound after ART interruption, there are rare individuals, termed post-treatment controllers (PTCs), who demonstrate sustained virologic suppression for months or years after treatment cessation. These individuals are considered an ideal example of durable HIV control, with direct implications for HIV cure research. However, understanding of the mechanisms behind the capacity of PTCs to control HIV remains incomplete. This is in part due to the scarcity of PTCs identified through any one research center or clinical trial, and in part because of the limited scope of studies that have been performed in these remarkable individuals. In this review, we summarize the results of both clinical and basic research studies of PTCs to date, explore key differences between PTCs and HIV spontaneous controllers, examine potential mechanisms of post-treatment control, and discuss unanswered questions and future research directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Etemad
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elmira Esmaeilzadeh
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan Z Li
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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12
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of the current review is to explore the evidence around virological remission in ART-treated and untreated individuals living with HIV. With increasing evidence and interest in post-treatment control within the HIV-cure field, it is now increasingly important to agree on definitions to allow different 'controller' phenotypes to be clearly distinguished and mechanisms compared. RECENT FINDINGS This review explores recent data on potential predictors and mechanisms driving spontaneous and post-treatment control. We explore data on the role of the reservoir as a determinant of control and the challenges associated with its study, including the safety of treatment interruption. We explore options around deriving a consensus on how to define different forms of control and the longer term utility of achieving remission. SUMMARY Post-treatment control and remission following treatment interruption are becoming increasingly common measures of intervention efficacy in cure trials. As well as a need to show treatment interruption protocols are well tolerated and acceptable, for these measures to be robust and comparable between studies, clear and consensual definitions need to be agreed.
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13
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Control HIV replication requires continuous combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) as discontinuation of cART results in a rapid viral rebound. However, a few individuals exist who took cART for several years and did not show the expected viral rebound after treatment cessation. Most post-treatment controllers (PTCs) are early treated individuals. We report three cases who started cART during chronic infection. DESIGN Patients were treated and monitored according to Italian guidelines. For the description of cases, the percentage of CD8CD38HLA*DR cells, CD8CD38HLA*DR cells, major histocompatibility complex genotyping, total HIV-DNA and plasma levels of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs were performed. RESULTS Patients started therapy during chronic infection. Patient 26636 started her first ARV drug two years after diagnosis and patients 93016 and 50293 started cART with high viral loads and low CD4 cell counts. Time without cART was 13, 11 and 1.5 years, respectively. None presented any of the protective class I HLA alleles and patient 93016 has the HLA-B*35 allele that appears to be enriched in PTCs. Patients 93016 and 50293 had very low levels of CD8CD38HLA*DR cells (<5%) much lower than those of patient 26636 (27%). T-cell-associated HIV-DNA was 3.78, 3.48 and 3.13 log copies/10 CD4, respectively. CONCLUSION Patients like ours may advance our understanding of the characteristics for which individuals may be more likely to achieve ART-free remissions. Furthermore, our patients are among the few so far described who started cART during chronic infection extending the hope that a functional cure is possible even in this setting.
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14
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Sneller MC, Justement JS, Gittens KR, Petrone ME, Clarridge KE, Proschan MA, Kwan R, Shi V, Blazkova J, Refsland EW, Morris DE, Cohen KW, McElrath MJ, Xu R, Egan MA, Eldridge JH, Benko E, Kovacs C, Moir S, Chun TW, Fauci AS. A randomized controlled safety/efficacy trial of therapeutic vaccination in HIV-infected individuals who initiated antiretroviral therapy early in infection. Sci Transl Med 2017; 9:eaan8848. [PMID: 29212716 PMCID: PMC11059970 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan8848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite substantial clinical benefits, complete eradication of HIV has not been possible using antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone. Strategies that can either eliminate persistent viral reservoirs or boost host immunity to prevent rebound of virus from these reservoirs after discontinuation of ART are needed; one possibility is therapeutic vaccination. We report the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of a therapeutic vaccine regimen in patients in whom ART was initiated during the early stage of HIV infection and whose immune system was anticipated to be relatively intact. The objectives of our study were to determine whether the vaccine was safe and could induce an immune response that would maintain suppression of plasma viremia after discontinuation of ART. Vaccinations were well tolerated with no serious adverse events but produced only modest augmentation of existing HIV-specific CD4+ T cell responses, with little augmentation of CD8+ T cell responses. Compared with placebo, the vaccination regimen had no significant effect on the kinetics or magnitude of viral rebound after interruption of ART and no impact on the size of the HIV reservoir in the CD4+ T cell compartment. Notably, 26% of subjects in the placebo arm exhibited sustained suppression of viremia (<400 copies/ml) after treatment interruption, a rate of spontaneous suppression higher than previously reported. Our findings regarding the degree and kinetics of plasma viral rebound after ART interruption have potentially important implications for the design of future trials testing interventions aimed at achieving ART-free control of HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Sneller
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - J Shawn Justement
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kathleen R Gittens
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mary E Petrone
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Katherine E Clarridge
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Richard Kwan
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Victoria Shi
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jana Blazkova
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eric W Refsland
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daryl E Morris
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Kristen W Cohen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - M Juliana McElrath
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rong Xu
- Profectus BioSciences Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
| | | | | | - Erika Benko
- Maple Leaf Medical Clinic, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1K2, Canada
| | - Colin Kovacs
- Maple Leaf Medical Clinic, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1K2, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Susan Moir
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tae-Wook Chun
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Anthony S Fauci
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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15
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Brief Report: Prevalence of Posttreatment Controller Phenotype Is Rare in HIV-Infected Persons After Stopping Antiretroviral Therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 75:364-369. [PMID: 28394856 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttreatment control of HIV infection is a rare phenomenon primarily described among those initiating treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) during early/acute HIV infection. METHODS We examined a large, well-characterized cohort of HIV-infected Department of Defense beneficiaries for the presence of posttreatment controllers (PTCs) whom we defined as individuals with sustained viral suppression for ≥6 months after discontinuation of ART. We defined those who became viremic within 6 months of discontinuing ART as rapid viremics (RVs) and compared demographic and clinical characteristics, CD4 counts, and viral loads prior, during, and after ART discontinuation between the 2 groups. RESULTS From a cohort of 6070 patients, we identified 95 who had been treated with ART for 2 years or more who subsequently discontinued ART and had viral load assessments available after discontinuation. Four (4.2%) of these 95 met our definition of PTC. The duration of viral suppression off of ART ranged from 267 to 1058 days with 1 of the 4 restarting ART without having redeveloped a significant viremia. All 4 patients initiated ART during chronic HIV infection. Demographic and clinical characteristics of PTCs were similar to RVs. CONCLUSIONS While posttreatment control has predominantly been described among individuals who initiated ART in early/acute HIV infection, we identified 4 PTCs who started ART during chronic infection suggesting that posttreatment control also occurs among such patients. The rarity of PTCs identified in our cohort is consistent with reports from previous studies.
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17
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Fidler S, Olson AD, Bucher HC, Fox J, Thornhill J, Morrison C, Muga R, Phillips A, Frater J, Porter K. Virological Blips and Predictors of Post Treatment Viral Control After Stopping ART Started in Primary HIV Infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 74:126-133. [PMID: 27846036 PMCID: PMC5228612 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few individuals commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in primary HIV infection (PHI) maintain undetectable viremia after treatment cessation. Associated factors remain unclear given the importance of the phenomenon to cure research. METHODS Using CASCADE data of seroconverters starting ART in PHI (≤6 months from seroconversion), we estimated proportions experiencing viral blips (>400 copies followed by <400 copies HIV-RNA/mL without alteration of regimen) while on ART. We used Cox models to examine the association between time from ART stop to loss of control (2 consecutive measurements >1000 copies per milliliter) and magnitude and frequency of blips while on ART, time from seroconversion to ART, time on ART, adjusting for mean number of HIV-RNA measurements/year while on ART, and other confounders. RESULTS Seven hundred seventy-eight seroconverters started ART in PHI with ≥3 HIV-RNA measurements. Median interquartile range (IQR) ART duration was 16.2 (8.0-35.9) months, within which we observed 13% with ≥1 blip. Of 228 who stopped ART, 119 rebounded; time to loss of control was associated with longer interval between seroconversion and ART initiation [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.16 per month; 1.04, 1.28], and blips while on ART (HR = 1.71 per blip; 95% confidence interval = 0.94 to 3.10). Longer time on ART (HR = 0.84 per additional month; 0.76, 0.92) was associated with lower risk of losing control. Of 228 stopping ART, 22 (10%) maintained post treatment control (PTC), ie, HIV-RNA <50 copies per milliliter ≥24 months after ART cessation. CONCLUSION HIV viral blips on therapy are associated with subsequent viral rebound on stopping ART among individuals treated in PHI. Longer duration on ART is associated with a greater chance of PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Fidler
- Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Heiner C. Bucher
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, London, UK. Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julie Fox
- Guys and St Thomas Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Thornhill
- Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roberto Muga
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; and
| | | | - John Frater
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, United Kingdom; Oxford Martin School, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
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18
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Abstract
Descriptions of individuals who are able to control viral replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy after receiving short-term therapy early in infection ("post-treatment controllers") has generated excitement and controversy within the field. As with natural or "elite" controllers, these cases provide hope that a long-term remission or "functional cure" might one day be possible. Here, we review what is known and not known about these cases and discuss the immunologic factors that may allow these unique individuals to be maintain viral control and may be important for future curative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie R Cockerham
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Suite 5100, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Hiroyu Hatano
- HIV/AIDS Division, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
| | - Steven G Deeks
- HIV/AIDS Division, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA.
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19
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Treatment interruption after 2-year antiretroviral treatment initiated during acute/early HIV in infancy. AIDS 2016; 30:2303-13. [PMID: 27177316 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Treatment interruption has been well tolerated and durable in some pediatric studies but none have compared treatment interruption with continued antiretroviral treatment (ART) following ART initiation in early HIV. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes in treatment interruption versus continued ART among early-treated infants. DESIGN Randomized trial (OPH-03; NCT00428116). METHODS The trial included HIV-infected infants who initiated ART at less than 13 months of age, received ART for 24 months, and, if eligible (CD4% >25%, normal growth), were randomized to treatment interruption versus continued ART. Children in the treatment interruption group restarted ART if they met WHO ART-eligibility criteria. During 18-months postrandomization, primary outcomes were incidence of serious adverse events and growth. CD4%, viral load, morbidity, and growth were compared. RESULTS Of 140 infants enrolled, 121 started ART, of whom 75 completed at least 24 months ART and 42 were randomized (21 per arm). ART was initiated at median age 5 months and randomization at 30 months. Among 21 treatment interruption children, 14 met ART restart criteria within 3 months. Randomization was discontinued by Data and Safety Monitoring Board due to low treatment interruption durability. At 18 months postrandomization, growth and serious adverse events were comparable between arms; hypercholesteremia incidence was higher in the continued arm (P = 0.03). CD4% and viral load did not differ between arms [CD4% 35% and median viral load undetectable (<150 copies/ml) in both arms, P = 0.9 for each comparison]. No infants had post-treatment viral control. CONCLUSION Short treatment interruption did not compromise 18-month CD4%, viral control, growth, or morbidity compared with continued ART among infants who started ART in early HIV infection.
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20
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Muir R, Metcalf T, Tardif V, Takata H, Phanuphak N, Kroon E, Colby DJ, Trichavaroj R, Valcour V, Robb ML, Michael NL, Ananworanich J, Trautmann L, Haddad EK. Altered Memory Circulating T Follicular Helper-B Cell Interaction in Early Acute HIV Infection. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005777. [PMID: 27463374 PMCID: PMC4963136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The RV254 cohort of HIV-infected very early acute (4thG stage 1 and 2) (stage 1/2) and late acute (4thG stage 3) (stage 3) individuals was used to study T helper- B cell responses in acute HIV infection and the impact of early antiretroviral treatment (ART) on T and B cell function. To investigate this, the function of circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh) from this cohort was examined, and cTfh and memory B cell populations were phenotyped. Impaired cTfh cell function was observed in individuals treated in stage 3 when compared to stage 1/2. The cTfh/B cell cocultures showed lower B cell survival and IgG secretion at stage 3 compared to stage 1/2. This coincided with lower IL-10 and increased RANTES and TNF-α suggesting a role for inflammation in altering cTfh and B cell responses. Elevated plasma viral load in stage 3 was found to correlate with decreased cTfh-mediated B cell IgG production indicating a role for increased viremia in cTfh impairment and dysfunctional humoral response. Phenotypic perturbations were also evident in the mature B cell compartment, most notably a decrease in resting memory B cells in stage 3 compared to stage 1/2, coinciding with higher viremia. Our coculture assay also suggested that intrinsic memory B cell defects could contribute to the impaired response despite at a lower level. Overall, cTfh-mediated B cell responses are significantly altered in stage 3 compared to stage 1/2, coinciding with increased inflammation and a reduction in memory B cells. These data suggest that early ART for acutely HIV infected individuals could prevent immune dysregulation while preserving cTfh function and B cell memory. The HIV-specific T cell memory response diminishes rapidly even after the initiation of anti-retroviral treatment (ART), and there is no control of viral rebound if treatment is interrupted. Restoration or preservation of memory T cells or B cells with treatment, to allow for control of virus replication after ART is stopped, is therefore very important. CD4+ T cells, in particular T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, have a major role in mediating antiviral immunity by providing help to B cells, which is key to a strong and efficient anti-HIV antibody response. The unique RV254 cohort provided the best setting to analyze immune responses during very early acute HIV, as the study was able to enroll individuals that were infected for less than 2 weeks and initiated treatment approximately 1–2 days after recruitment. We aimed to study the capacity of memory circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells to promote B cell help in acute HIV infection, and found the interaction to be dysfunctional in the later stage compared to the very early stages, accompanied by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and a reduction in regulatory cytokines. High levels of plasma viremia correlated with low cTfh-mediated B cell antibody production in later stage acute individuals; and memory B cells were significantly decreased but could be restored with ART, compared to chronically infected individuals, who could not normalize this compartment compared to healthy individuals. Overall, we show that the cTfh- B cell interaction and B cell memory compartment is altered in late stage acute infection, mainly attributed to an increase in inflammation and skewing of the response away from helper to proinflammatory. Identifying individuals for treatment in the earliest stages of acute infection, prior to immune damage, could preserve cTfh function and the anti-HIV B cell response, therefore reducing the chances of viral rebound upon the cessation of ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshell Muir
- Drexel University, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Talibah Metcalf
- Drexel University, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Virginie Tardif
- Drexel University, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hiroshi Takata
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- United States Military HIV Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Eugene Kroon
- SEARCH, the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Donn J. Colby
- SEARCH, the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rapee Trichavaroj
- Department of Retrovirology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, United States Component, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Victor Valcour
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Merlin L. Robb
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- United States Military HIV Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nelson L. Michael
- United States Military HIV Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- United States Military HIV Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- SEARCH, the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lydie Trautmann
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- United States Military HIV Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elias K. Haddad
- Drexel University, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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