[HTML][HTML] HIV-specific T cell responses are highly stable on antiretroviral therapy

Y Xu, IM Trumble, JA Warren, G Clutton… - … Therapy-Methods & …, 2019 - cell.com
Y Xu, IM Trumble, JA Warren, G Clutton, M Abad-Fernandez, J Kirchnerr, AA Adimora…
Molecular Therapy-Methods & Clinical Development, 2019cell.com
HIV infection induces a robust T cell response that is sustained by high viremia, but falls
following the onset of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Relatively little has been reported on the
subsequent stability of the HIV-specific T cell response in individuals on durable therapy.
Such data are critical for powering clinical trials testing T cell-based immunotherapies. In a
cross-sectional study, HIV-specific T cell responses were detectable by ex vivo interferon
(IFN)-γ ELISpot (average∼ 1,100 spot-forming units [SFUs]/10 6 peripheral blood …
HIV infection induces a robust T cell response that is sustained by high viremia, but falls following the onset of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Relatively little has been reported on the subsequent stability of the HIV-specific T cell response in individuals on durable therapy. Such data are critical for powering clinical trials testing T cell-based immunotherapies. In a cross-sectional study, HIV-specific T cell responses were detectable by ex vivo interferon (IFN)-γ ELISpot (average ∼1,100 spot-forming units [SFUs]/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells) in persons living with HIV (PLWH; n = 34), despite median durable ART suppression of 5.0 years. No substantial association was detected between the summed HIV-specific T cell response and the size of the replication-competent HIV reservoir. T cell responses were next measured in participants sampled weekly, monthly, or yearly. HIV-specific T cell responses were highly stable over the time periods examined; within-individual variation ranged from 16% coefficient of variation (CV) for weekly to 27% CV for yearly sampling. These data were used to generate power calculations for future immunotherapy studies. The stability of the HIV-specific T cell response in suppressed PLWH will enable powered studies of small sizes (e.g., n = 6–12), facilitating rapid and iterative testing for T cell-based immunotherapies against HIV.
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