1. Academic Validation
  2. Clearance of HIV infection by selective elimination of host cells capable of producing HIV

Clearance of HIV infection by selective elimination of host cells capable of producing HIV

  • Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 13;11(1):4051. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17753-w.
Min Li 1 Wei Liu 1 Tonya Bauch 1 Edward A Graviss 2 Roberto C Arduino 3 Jason T Kimata 4 Min Chen 5 Jin Wang 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Immunobiology and Transplant Science Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
  • 2 Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
  • 3 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
  • 4 Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
  • 5 Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
  • 6 Immunobiology and Transplant Science Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. [email protected].
  • 7 Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA. [email protected].
Abstract

The RNA genome of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is reverse-transcribed into DNA and integrated into the host genome, resulting in latent infections that are difficult to clear. Here we show an approach to eradicate HIV infections by selective elimination of host cells harboring replication-competent HIV (SECH), which includes viral reactivation, induction of cell death, inhibition of Autophagy and the blocking of new infections. Viral reactivation triggers cell death specifically in HIV-1-infected T cells, which is promoted by agents that induce Apoptosis and inhibit Autophagy. SECH treatments can clear HIV-1 in >50% mice reconstituted with a human immune system, as demonstrated by the lack of viral rebound after withdrawal of treatments, and by adoptive transfer of treated lymphocytes into uninfected humanized mice. Moreover, SECH clears HIV-1 in blood samples from HIV-1-infected patients. Our results suggest a strategy to eradicate HIV infections by selectively eliminating host cells capable of producing HIV.

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