Improving immune function and controlling viral replication in HIV-1-infected patients with immune-based therapies

Restoring and preserving immune function is a key component to successfully managing HIV-1 disease. Phase II/III studies have evaluated the safety and immunologic effects of immune-based therapies, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-2, and an inactivated HIV-1 immunogen, as adjuncts to antiretroviral therapy. Addition of each of these immune-based therapies to a background antiretroviral regimen enhanced, to varying degrees, immunologic function and suppression of viral replication in HIV-1-infected patients, suggesting a potential role for immune-based therapies in the treatment of HIV-1 disease. Further studies are needed to better characterize specific immunologic and virologic effects in different patient populations and to determine their impact on clinical outcomes.