11 Targeting HIV-Infected Cells

This chapter will describe methods that may be used to deliver agents to HIV-infected cells. These materials may be used for therapeutic or experimental purposes. There are several general approaches to delivering compounds to human immunodeficiency cells (HIV)-infected cells. All cells may be exposed to materials that only have an effect or become activated in HIV-infected cells. Examples include drugs that are specific for HIV-encoded enzymes, such as reverse transcriptase or protease, or genes that are expressed under the control of the HIV-LTR. Lack of specificity is a major limitation to this approach; for example, reverse transcriptase inhibitors also inhibit cellular DNA polymerases and cellular transcription factors clan initiate low-level-transcription off the HIV-LTR, even in the absence of tat. The alternative approach, which is the subject of this chapter, is to target the materials specifically to the infected cells. We have used monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to deliver toxins to HIV-infected cells, but others have used this approach to deliver antiviral agents, liposomes, and even genes.