Immune checkpoint inhibitors in infectious disease

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Oncology

Background:

• Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy.
• ICB is now being explored for chronic viral infections, including HIV and hepatitis B.
• Immune checkpoints regulate T cell responses and are implicated in infectious disease pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the role of immune checkpoints in infectious diseases.
• To explore the potential of ICB, specifically anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), in managing HIV.
• To highlight research on anti-PD-1's impact on HIV latency, T cell function, and persistence.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies on immune checkpoint function and blockade in viral infections.
• Analysis of research investigating anti-PD-1's effects on HIV-specific T cells and viral latency.
• Examination of in vivo studies of anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Main Results:

• Anti-PD-1 therapy can restore function to exhausted HIV-specific T cells.
• Anti-PD-1 has the potential to reverse HIV latency, a persistent viral reservoir.
• Studies show ICB impacts the establishment, maintenance, and reversal of HIV latency.

Conclusions:

• Immune checkpoint blockade, particularly anti-PD-1, is a promising strategy for durable immune-mediated control of HIV.
• Further research is needed to evaluate anti-PD-1 in people with HIV on ART without cancer and in combination therapies.