What can spontaneous controllers, posttreatment controllers and postintervention controllers teach us about an HIV...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• HIV Research

Background:

• HIV controllers spontaneously control viral replication without antiretroviral therapy.
• This population is diverse, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of control mechanisms.
• Identifying these mechanisms is crucial for developing a functional HIV cure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential mechanisms underlying spontaneous control of HIV replication.
• To explore how these mechanisms can be leveraged for HIV cure strategies.
• To summarize findings on immune responses in individuals who control HIV.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent studies on HIV controllers.
• Analysis of immune responses, including CD8+ T cells and neutralizing antibodies.
• Examination of posttreatment and postintervention control in people with HIV.

Main Results:

• Potent HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses are observed in posttreatment and postintervention controllers.
• Autologous neutralizing antibodies are implicated as a correlate of protection in these controllers.
• Broadly neutralizing antibodies and immune modulators show promise in achieving control.

Conclusions:

• Early antiretroviral therapy initiation is important.
• Strategies to enhance HIV-specific CD8+ T cell and autologous neutralizing antibody responses may increase posttreatment control.
• Combining immune enhancement with early treatment could lead to higher rates of HIV remission.