Killer T Cell Traits and Long-Term HIV Remission

Researchers at Mass General Brigham and the Ragon Institute have uncovered the reasons why certain individuals with HIV can achieve long-term remission after receiving broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies (bNAbs). This group can safely discontinue standard HIV medications and maintain virus control for years, unlike others who do not reach this remission status. The findings, published in Nature, suggest the potential for designing combination therapies that can benefit a wider population.

Senior author David Collins, PhD, of the Ragon Institute, emphasized the significance of killer T cells in achieving durable HIV remission. The study involved analyzing blood samples from 12 participants across multiple clinical trials who discontinued antiretroviral therapy after bNAb treatment. The researchers observed that CD8+ T cells in ‘post-intervention controllers’ were efficient at multiplying and killing HIV cells, attributes crucial for virus control even before treatment.

The study highlighted that the quality of existing CD8+ T cell responses, rather than the development of new responses, played a vital role in achieving virus control. Collins added that immunotherapies capable of enhancing virus-specific CD8+ T cells’ responses and proliferation could significantly boost the chances of long-term HIV remission induced by bNAb therapy.

Further research with a larger participant pool is necessary to validate the link between HIV-specific CD8+ T cell features and responses to bNAb therapy. This approach could potentially expand the number of individuals benefiting from this form of treatment. Co-author Bruce Walker, MD, from the Ragon Institute, remains cautiously optimistic about replicating the immune system properties observed in post-intervention controllers among HIV patients.

Efforts to induce similar immune system traits in individuals living with HIV are ongoing, with the aim of enhancing responses to bNAb therapy. While the success of these efforts is yet to be determined, the study offers promising insights into the role of killer T cells in achieving long-term remission for HIV patients. The findings underscore the importance of understanding immune system characteristics in developing effective HIV treatment strategies.