HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells and HIV eradication. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • After the success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) to treat HIV infection, the next great frontier is to cure infected persons, a formidable challenge. HIV persists in a quiescent state in resting CD4+ T cells, where the replicative enzymes targeted by cART are not active. Although low levels of HIV transcripts are detectable in these resting cells, little to no viral protein is produced, rendering this reservoir difficult to detect by the host CD8+ T cell response. However, recent advances suggest that this state of latency might be pharmacologically reversed, resulting in viral protein expression without the adverse effects of massive cellular activation. Emerging data suggest that with this approach, infected cells will not die of viral cytopathic effects, but might be eliminated if HIV-specific CD8+ T cells can be effectively harnessed. Here, we address the antiviral properties of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and how these cells might be harnessed to greater effect toward achieving viral eradication or a functional cure.

publication date

  • January 5, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • HIV Infections
  • HIV-1

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4731167

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84956938667

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1172/JCI80566

PubMed ID

  • 26731469

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 126

issue

  • 2