Elimination of Latently HIV-infected Cells from Antiretroviral Therapy-suppressed Subjects by Engineered Immune-mobilizing T-cell Receptors

Mol Ther. 2016 Nov;24(11):1913-1925. doi: 10.1038/mt.2016.114. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Abstract

Persistence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a latent state in long-lived CD4+ T-cells is a major barrier to eradication. Latency-reversing agents that induce direct or immune-mediated cell death upon reactivation of HIV are a possible solution. However, clearance of reactivated cells may require immunotherapeutic agents that are fine-tuned to detect viral antigens when expressed at low levels. We tested the antiviral efficacy of immune-mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptors against viruses (ImmTAVs), bispecific molecules that redirect CD8+ T-cells to kill HIV-infected CD4+ T-cells. T-cell receptors specific for an immunodominant Gag epitope, SL9, and its escape variants were engineered to achieve supraphysiological affinity and fused to a humanised CD3-specific single chain antibody fragment. Ex vivo polyclonal CD8+ T-cells were efficiently redirected by immune-mobilising monoclonal T-cell receptors against viruses to eliminate CD4+ T-cells from human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201-positive antiretroviral therapy-treated patients after reactivation of inducible HIV in vitro. The efficiency of infected cell elimination correlated with HIV Gag expression. Immune-mobilising monoclonal T-cell receptors against viruses have potential as a therapy to facilitate clearance of reactivated HIV reservoir cells.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • HIV Antibodies / pharmacology*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Virus Latency

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell