Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Anti-HIV scFv Efficiently Protects CD4 T Cells from HIV-1 Infection and Deletion in hu-PBL Mice

ABSTRACT Despite success in viral inhibition and CD4 T cell recovery by highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), HIV-1 is still not curable due to the persistence of the HIV-1 reservoir during treatment. One patient with acute myeloid leukemia who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a homozygous CCR5 Δ32 donor has had no detectable viremia for 9 years after HAART cessation. This case has inspired a field of HIV-1 cure research focusing on engineering HIV-1 resistance in permissive cells. Here, we employed a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-scFv X5 approach to confer resistance of human primary CD4 T cells to HIV-1. We showed that primary CD4 T cells expressing GPI-scFv X5 were resistant to CCR5 (R5)-, CXCR4 (X4)-, and dual-tropic HIV-1 and had a survival advantage compared to control cells ex vivo. In a hu-PBL mouse study, GPI-scFv X5-transduced CD4 T cells were selected in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues upon HIV-1 infection. Finally, GPI-scFv X5-transduced CD4 T cells, after being cotransfused with HIV-infected cells, showed significantly reduced viral loads and viral RNA copy numbers relative to CD4 cells in hu-PBL mice compared to mice with GPI-scFv AB65-transduced CD4 T cells. We conclude that GPI-scFv X5-modified CD4 T cells could potentially be used as a genetic intervention against both R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 infections. IMPORTANCE Blocking of HIV-1 entry is one of most promising approaches for therapy. Genetic disruption of the HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5 by nucleases in T cells is under 2 clinical trials and leads to reduced viremia in patients. However, the emergence of viruses using the CXCR4 coreceptor is a concern for therapies applying single-coreceptor disruption. Here, we report that HIV-1-permissive CD4 T cells engineered with GPI-scFv X5 are resistant to R5-, X4-, or dual-tropic virus infection ex vivo. In a preclinical study using hu-PBL mice, we show that CD4 T cells were protected and that GPI-scFv X5-transduced cells were selected in HIV-1-infected animals. Moreover, we show that GPI-scFv X5-transduced CD4 T cells exerted a negative effect on virus replication in vivo. We conclude that GPI-scFv X5-modified CD4 T cells could potentially be used as a genetic intervention against both R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 infections.

Download Full-text

HIV-1–induced activation of CD4+ T cells creates new targets for HIV-1 infection in human lymphoid tissue ex vivo

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2007-05-088435 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 111 (2) ◽

pp. 699-704 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Angélique Biancotto ◽

Sarah J. Iglehart ◽

Christophe Vanpouille ◽

Cristian E. Condack ◽

Andrea Lisco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Lymphoid Tissue ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Lymphoid Tissues ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

New Targets ◽

Hla Dr ◽

Human Lymphoid Tissue ◽

Hiv 1

We demonstrate mechanisms by which HIV-1 appears to facilitate its own infection in ex vivo–infected human lymphoid tissue. In this system, HIV-1 readily infects various CD4+ T cells, but productive viral infection was supported predominantly by activated T cells expressing either CD25 or HLA-DR or both (CD25/HLA-DR) but not other activation markers: There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.64, P = .001) between virus production and the number of CD25+/HLA-DR+ T cells. HIV-1 infection of lymphoid tissue was associated with activation of both HIV-1–infected and uninfected (bystanders) T cells. In these tissues, apoptosis was selectively increased in T cells expressing CD25/HLA-DR and p24gag but not in cells expressing either of these markers alone. In the course of HIV-1 infection, there was a significant increase in the number of activated (CD25+/HLA-DR+) T cells both infected and uninfected (bystander). By inducing T cells to express particular markers of activation that create new targets for infection, HIV-1 generates in ex vivo lymphoid tissues a vicious destructive circle of activation and infection. In vivo, such self-perpetuating cycle could contribute to HIV-1 disease.

Download Full-text

Optimizing CD4+ T-Cells Transduction Protocol for Gene Therapy of HIV-1 Infected Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.4429.4429 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 4429-4429

Author(s):

Amani Ouedrani ◽

Lounes Djerroudi ◽

Isabelle Hmitou ◽

Marina Cavazzana ◽

Fabien Touzot

Keyword(s):

Gene Therapy ◽

T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Lentiviral Vector ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Effector Memory ◽

Target Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Gene therapy represents an alternative and promising strategy that could provide a path to a curative therapy for HIV-1 infection. One approach involves the introduction of protective gene into a cell, thereby conferring protection against HIV. We plan to conduct an open label phase I/II gene therapy trial for HIV-1 infected patients presenting with lymphoma. The patients will received autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation with gene modified CD34+ cells and CD4+ T-cells. CD34+ and CD4+ will be ex vivo transduced by the LVsh5/C46 lentiviral vector (Cal-1, Calimmune, Inc. Tucson, USA). LVsh5/C46 is a SIN lentiviral vector that inhibits two crucial steps of CD4+ T cell infection by the HIV virus: (i) attachment of the virus to its target by downregulation of CCR5 via a short hairpin RNA, (ii) fusion of the virus to the target cell through expression of the C46 inhibitor. We developed a transduction process for CD4+ T-cells using the TransAct™ reagent (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach , Germany) for CD4+ T-cells activation. Compared to previously published T-cells transduction protocols, the use of Miltenyi TransAct™ permits an equivalent efficacy of transduction - evaluated by measurement of vector copy number through quantitative PCR - without major phenotypic modification. Indeed, CD4+ T-cells ex vivo transduced after activation with the TransAct™ reagent display very few changes in their surface marker with conservation of naive (CCR7+CD62L+CD45RA+), central memory (CCR7+CD62L+CD45RA-) and effector memory (CCR7-CD62L-CD45RA-) subsets in superimposable proportions as initially. Moreover, expression of CD25 remains below 15-25% of cells suggesting a more "gentle " activation of the transduced CD4+ T-cells. Our transduction process had no significant impact in TCRβ repertoire diversity as evaluated by high-throughput sequencing and analyzis of diversity through the Gini-Simpson index or the Shannon index. Finally, transduced CD4 + T-cells retained the ability to to be primed towards the TH1, TH2 and TH17 pathways suggesting that the transduction protocol used did not alter the functional properties of the target cells. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text

Use of a Combined Ex Vivo/In Vivo Population Approach for Screening of Human Genes Involved in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Life Cycle for Variants Influencing Disease Progression

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.79.20.12674-12680.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 79 (20) ◽

pp. 12674-12680 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Gabriela Bleiber ◽

Margaret May ◽

Raquel Martinez ◽

Pascal Meylan ◽

Jürg Ott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

T Cells ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Humans differ substantially with respect to susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We evaluated variants of nine host genes participating in the viral life cycle for their role in modulating HIV-1 infection. Alleles were assessed ex vivo for their impact on viral replication in purified CD4 T cells from healthy blood donors (n = 128). Thereafter, candidate alleles were assessed in vivo in a cohort of HIV-1-infected individuals (n = 851) not receiving potent antiretroviral therapy. As a benchmark test, we tested 12 previously reported host genetic variants influencing HIV-1 infection as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms in the nine candidate genes. This led to the proposition of three alleles of PML, TSG101, and PPIA as potentially associated with differences in progression of HIV-1 disease. In a model considering the combined effects of new and previously reported gene variants, we estimated that their effect might be responsible for lengthening or shortening by up to 2.8 years the period from 500 CD4 T cells/μl to <200 CD4 T cells/μl.

Download Full-text

CRISPRCas9-mediated gene disruption of endogenous co-receptors confers broad resistance to HIV-1 in human primary cells and humanized mice

10.1101/2021.06.30.450601 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shasha Li ◽

Leo Holguin ◽

John C Burnett

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

T Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Surface Expression ◽

Humanized Mouse Model ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Human Cd34 ◽

Hiv 1

In this project, we investigated the CRISPR/Cas9 system for creating HIV resistance by targeting the human CCR5 and CXCR4 genes, which encode cellular co-receptors required for HIV-1 infection. Using a clinically scalable system for transient ex vivo delivery of Cas9/gRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, we demonstrated that CRISPR-mediated disruption of CCR5 and CXCR4 in T-lymphocytes cells significantly reduced surface expression of the co-receptors, thereby establishing resistance to HIV-1 infection by CCR5 (R5)-tropic, CXCR4 (X4)-tropic, and dual (R5/X4)-tropic strains. CRISPR-mediated disruption of the CCR5 alleles in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) led to the differentiation of HIV-resistant macrophages. In human CD4+ T cells transplanted into a humanized mouse model, disruption of CXCR4 inhibited replication of X4-tropic HIV-1, thus leading to the virus-mediated enrichment CXCR4-disrupted cells in the peripheral blood and spleen. However, in human CD4+ T cells with both CCR5 and CXCR4 disruption, we observed poor engraftment in bone marrow, although significant changes were not observed in the lung, spleen, or peripheral blood. This study establishes a clinically scalable strategy for the dual knockout of HIV-1 co-receptors as a therapeutic strategy, while also raising caution of disrupting CXCR4, which may abate engraftment of CD4+ T cells in bone marrow.

Download Full-text

In Vivo Evolution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 toward Increased Pathogenicity through CXCR4-Mediated Killing of Uninfected CD4 T Cells

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.77.10.5846-5854.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (10) ◽

pp. 5846-5854 ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

Andreas Jekle ◽

Oliver T. Keppler ◽

Erik De Clercq ◽

Dominique Schols ◽

Mark Weinstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

T Cells ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Lymphoid Tissues ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The destruction of the immune system by progressive loss of CD4 T cells is the hallmark of AIDS. CCR5-dependent (R5) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates predominate in the early, asymptomatic stages of HIV-1 infection, while CXCR4-dependent (X4) isolates typically emerge at later stages, frequently coinciding with a rapid decline in CD4 T cells. Lymphocyte killing in vivo primarily occurs through apoptosis, but the importance of apoptosis of HIV-1-infected cells relative to apoptosis of uninfected bystander cells is controversial. Here we show that in human lymphoid tissues ex vivo, apoptosis of uninfected bystander CD4 T cells is a major mechanism of lymphocyte depletion caused by X4 HIV-1 strains but is only a minor mechanism of depletion by R5 strains. Further, X4 HIV-1-induced bystander apoptosis requires the interaction of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 with the CXCR4 coreceptor on CD4 T cells. These results emphasize the contribution of bystander apoptosis to HIV-1 cytotoxicity and suggest that in association with a coreceptor switch in HIV disease, T-cell killing evolves from an infection-restricted stage to generalized toxicity that involves a high degree of bystander apoptosis.

Download Full-text

Inconsistent Reversal of HIV-1 Latency Ex Vivo by Antigens of HIV-1, CMV, and Other Infectious Agents

10.21203/rs.3.rs-35386/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas Vollbrecht ◽

Aaron O. Angerstein ◽

Bryson Menke ◽

Nikesh M. Kumar ◽

Michelli Faria Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

T Cell Activation ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Latent Reservoir ◽

Antigen Specificity ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract BackgroundA reservoir of replication-competent but latent virus is the main obstacle to a cure for HIV-infection. Much of this reservoir resides in memory CD4 T cells. We hypothesized that these cells can be reactivated with antigens from HIV and other common pathogens to reverse latency. ResultsWe obtained mononuclear cells from the peripheral blood of antiretroviral-treated patients with suppressed viremia. We tested pools of peptides and proteins derived from HIV and from other pathogens including CMV for their ability to reverse latency ex vivo by activation of memory responses. We assessed activation of the CD4 T cells by measuring the up-regulation of cell-surface CD69. We assessed HIV-expression using two assays: a real-time PCR assay for virion-associated viral RNA and a droplet digital PCR assay for cell-associated, multiply spliced viral mRNA. Reversal of latency occurred in a minority of cells from some participants, but no single antigen induced HIV-expression ex vivo consistently. When reversal of latency was induced by a specific peptide pool or protein, the extent was proportionally greater than that of T cell activation. ConclusionsIn this group of patients in whom antiretroviral therapy was started during chronic infection, the latent reservoir does not appear to consistently reside in CD4 T cells of a predominant antigen-specificity. Peptide-antigens reversed HIV-latency ex vivo with modest and variable activity. When latency was reversed by specific peptides or proteins, it was proportionally greater than the extent of T cell activation, suggesting partial enrichment of the latent reservoir in cells of specific antigen-reactivity.

Download Full-text

Modeling HIV-1 Latency Using Primary CD4+ T Cells from Virally Suppressed HIV-1-Infected Individuals on Antiretroviral Therapy

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02248-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hiroshi Takata ◽

Cari Kessing ◽

Aaron Sy ◽

Noemia Lima ◽

Julia Sciumbata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Viral Reactivation ◽

Hiv Latency ◽

Cell Models ◽

Hiv Cure ◽

Hiv Reservoirs ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The low frequency of latently HIV-infected cells in vivo limits the testing of potential HIV cure strategies using cells from successfully suppressed individuals. To date, primary cell models of latency use cells infected in vitro. Primary CD4+ T cell models carrying an individual’s endogenous HIV reservoir that recapitulate in vivo conditions of HIV latency are still outstanding. We developed a primary CD4+ T cell model of HIV latency derived from memory CD4+ T cells isolated from virally suppressed HIV-infected individuals that recapitulates HIV-1 latency and viral reactivation events. This model is based on the expansion of primary CD4+ T cells up to 300-fold in cell number. These cells reestablish a resting state without active virus production after extended culture and maintain a stable number of total HIV proviruses. The ability of these cells to respond to various classes of latency-reversing agents is similar to that of ex vivo CD4+ T cells directly isolated from blood. Importantly, viral outgrowth assays confirmed the ability of these expanded cells to produce replication-competent endogenous virus. In sum, this model recapitulates ex vivo viral reactivation conditions, captures the variability between individuals with different HIV reservoirs, and provides large numbers of cells for testing multiple agents from a single donor. The use of this novel model will allow accurate exploration of novel cure approaches aimed either at promoting viral reactivation or maintaining sustained latency. IMPORTANCE Primary cell models of HIV latency have been very useful to identify mechanisms contributing to HIV latency and to evaluate potential HIV cure strategies. However, the current models utilize in vitro infection with exogenous virus that does not fully recapitulate virus reactivation profiles of endogenous HIV in in vivo-infected CD4+ T cells. In contrast, obtaining sufficient amounts of CD4+ T cells from HIV-infected individuals to interrogate the HIV reservoir in vitro requires leukapheresis. In the model we propose here, in vitro expansion and extended culture of primary CD4+ T cells isolated from virally suppressed HIV-infected individuals enable obtaining large numbers of cells harboring endogenous latent HIV reservoirs without performing leukapheresis. This model captures the variability of HIV reservoirs seeded in different individuals and should be useful to evaluate future HIV cure strategies.

Download Full-text

Potential of the NKG2D/NKG2DL Axis in NK Cell-Mediated Clearance of the HIV-1 Reservoir

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20184490 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 4490 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria G. Desimio ◽

Daniela A. Covino ◽

Margherita Doria

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Virus Reactivation ◽

Major Drawback ◽

Virus Eradication ◽

Latent Hiv ◽

Hiv 1

Viral persistency in latently infected CD4+ T cells despite antiretroviral therapy (ART) represents a major drawback in the fight against HIV-1. Efforts to purge latent HIV-1 have been attempted using latency reversing agents (LRAs) that activate expression of the quiescent virus. However, initial trials have shown that immune responses of ART-treated patients are ineffective at clearing LRA-reactivated HIV-1 reservoirs, suggesting that an adjuvant immunotherapy is needed. Here we overview multiple lines of evidence indicating that natural killer (NK) cells have the potential to induce anti-HIV-1 responses relevant for virus eradication. In particular, we focus on the role of the NKG2D activating receptor that crucially enables NK cell-mediated killing of HIV-1-infected cells. We describe recent data indicating that LRAs can synergize with HIV-1 at upregulating ligands for NKG2D (NKG2DLs), hence sensitizing T cells that exit from viral latency for recognition and lysis by NK cells; in addition, we report in vivo and ex vivo data showing the potential benefits and drawbacks that LRAs may have on NKG2D expression and, more in general, on the cytotoxicity of NK cells. Finally, we discuss how the NKG2D/NKG2DLs axis can be exploited for the development of effective HIV-1 eradication strategies combining LRA-induced virus reactivation with recently optimized NK cell-based immunotherapies.

Download Full-text

Preferential infection and depletion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis–specific CD4 T cells after HIV-1 infection

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20100090 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 207 (13) ◽

pp. 2869-2881 ◽

Cited By ~ 155

Author(s):

Christof Geldmacher ◽

Njabulo Ngwenyama ◽

Alexandra Schuetz ◽

Constantinos Petrovas ◽

Klaus Reither ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B ◽

Opportunistic Pathogens ◽

Rapid Loss ◽

Hiv 1

HIV-1 infection results in the progressive loss of CD4 T cells. In this study, we address how different pathogen-specific CD4 T cells are affected by HIV infection and the cellular parameters involved. We found striking differences in the depletion rates between CD4 T cells to two common opportunistic pathogens, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). CMV-specific CD4 T cells persisted after HIV infection, whereas MTB-specific CD4 T cells were depleted rapidly. CMV-specific CD4 T cells expressed a mature phenotype and produced very little IL-2, but large amounts of MIP-1β. In contrast, MTB-specific CD4 T cells were less mature, and most produced IL-2 but not MIP-1β. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B–stimulated IL-2–producing cells were more susceptible to HIV infection in vitro than MIP-1β–producing cells. Moreover, IL-2 production was associated with expression of CD25, and neutralization of IL-2 completely abrogated productive HIV infection in vitro. HIV DNA was found to be most abundant in IL-2–producing cells, and least abundant in MIP-1β–producing MTB-specific CD4 T cells from HIV-infected subjects with active tuberculosis. These data support the hypothesis that differences in function affect the susceptibility of pathogen-specific CD4 T cells to HIV infection and depletion in vivo, providing a potential mechanism to explain the rapid loss of MTB-specific CD4 T cells after HIV infection.

Download Full-text