Return to search

Determining agents for reversing latency in HIV-infected CD4+ T cells to eradicate the virus in the infected host

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that is transmitted through certain bodily fluids and compromises the immune system of its host. Despite the emergence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) converting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection from a fatal disease to a chronic condition, there is still no cure. ART frequently reestablishes peripheral CD4+ T cell counts, but persistent immune dysfunction and inflammation strongly correlate with increased risks of attaining non-AIDS morbidity and mortality. Elimination of this reservoir may occur by the proposed mechanism of combining latency-reversing agents (LRAs) with immune effectors, such as CD8+ T cells (Meås et al., 2020). Here, our study investigates Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR 7/8) superagonists that may act as potent, effective latency reversal agents (LRAs). Whether this will prove to be the case needs to be further studied, and potential adverse toxicities must be identified. Whether comparable results will be observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with HIV-1 as in our study using PBMCs infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) remains to be tested. Our results provide further hope for a potential cure for HIV-infected individuals.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/45212
Date29 September 2022
CreatorsMoore, Cameron Alexander
ContributorsSlack, Barbara, Whitney, James
Source SetsBoston University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

Page generated in 0.0022 seconds