The Antiviral Immune Response and Its Impact on the HIV-1 Reservoir

Abstract

Latently infected resting memory CD4 T cells represent a major barrier to HIV-1 eradication. Studies have shown that it will not be possible to cure HIV-1 infection unless these cells are eliminated. Latently infected cells probably do not express viral antigens and thus may not be susceptible to the HIV-1 specific immune response, nevertheless the size and composition of the reservoir is influenced by the immune system. In this chapter, we review the different components of the HIV-1 specific immune response and discuss how the immune system can be harnessed to eradicate the virus.

Early antiretroviral therapy in neonates with HIV-1 infection restricts viral reservoir size and induces a distinct innate immune profile

“…The phenotypes, compositions, and functional profiles of CD4 + T cells in neonates and infants differ profoundly from adults and may alter cellular susceptibility to viral infection, affect the selection of proviral chromosomal integration sites, and modify clonal turnover of infected cells, all of which have been shown to affect viral reservoir dynamics in adult HIV-1 infection (14)(15)(16)(17) and in infant simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques (18). In addition, the specific influence of antiviral immune responses on viral reservoir size and structure during neonatal HIV-1 infection is uncertain given that HIV-1-specific T cells, frequently considered as the hallmark of antiviral immunity in adults (19), are likely to be underdeveloped in neonates because of the characteristic weaknesses of T helper 1 (T H 1)-polarized immunity in developing infants (20). Here, we describe a detailed evaluation of neonates with HIV-1 infection who started ART within the first days after birth as part of the Early Infant Treatment Study (EIT Study, NCT02369406).…”

SARS-CoV-2 Portrayed Against HIV: Contrary Viral Strategies in Similar Disguise

“…Additionally, the effective T cell control of HIV-1 is also heavily reliant on HLA presentation of peptides to CD8 + T cells. The HLA alleles HLA-B27 and HLA-B57, as well as a polymorphism in HLA-C, have been identified in LTNP/EC individuals and are suggested to stimulate more effective CD8 + immune responses than those observed in cases of progressive HIV-1 infection [388]. HIV-1 infected LTNP/EC individuals also maintain poly-functional CD8 + responses with enhanced degranulation, cytokine, and chemokine production, contributing to a controlled infection in these individuals (Figure 5a) [389][390][391].…”

SARS-CoV-2 Portrayed against HIV: Contrary Viral Strategies in Similar Disguise

“…Additionally, the effective T cell control of HIV-1 is also heavily reliant on HLA presentation of peptides to CD8 + T cells. The HLA alleles HLA-B27 and HLA-B57, as well as a polymorphism in HLA-C, have been identified in LTNP/EC individuals and are suggested to stimulate more effective CD8 + immune responses than those observed in cases of progressive HIV-1 infection [ 474 ]. HIV-1-infected LTNP/EC individuals also maintain poly-functional CD8 + responses with enhanced degranulation, cytokine, and chemokine production, contributing to a controlled infection in these individuals ( Figure 5 a) [ 475 , 476 , 477 ].…”