Anti-HIV designer T cells progressively eradicate a latently infected cell line by sequentially inducing HIV reactivation then killing the newly gp120-positive cells

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2013-11, Vol.446 (1), p.268-275
• Main Authors: Sahu, Gautam K, Sango, Kaori, Selliah, Nithianandan, Ma, Qiangzhong, Skowron, Gail, Junghans, Richard P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CD28 Antigens - biosynthesis; CD28 Antigens - genetics; CD3 Complex - biosynthesis; CD3 Complex - genetics; CD4 Antigens - biosynthesis; CD4 Antigens - genetics; CD4–CD28–CD3ζ; Cell Line; Chimeric antigen receptor; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Designer T cells; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - biosynthesis; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - immunology; Gene-modified T cells; HIV - immunology; HIV Infections - therapy; HIV-1; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunotherapy - methods; Infectious Disease; Reactivation of latent HIV; Receptors, Antigen - biosynthesis; Receptors, Antigen - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - biosynthesis; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.08.002

Abstract The current antiretroviral therapy (ART) can effectively reduce plasma HIV loads to undetectable levels, but cannot eliminate latently infected resting memory CD4 T cells that persist for the lifetime of infected patients. Therefore, designing new therapeutic approaches to eliminate these latently infected cells or the cells that produce HIV upon reactivation from latency is a priority in the ART era in order to progress to a cure of HIV. Here, we show that “designer” T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), CD4–CD28–CD3ζ, can target and kill HIV Env-expressing cells. Further, they secrete effector cytokines upon contact with HIV Env+ target cells that can reactivate latent HIV in a cell line model, thereby exposing those cells to recognition and killing by anti-HIV CAR+ T cells. Taken to the limit, this process could form the basis for an eventual functional or sterilizing cure for HIV in patients.