[HTML][HTML] Envelope-specific antibodies and antibody-derived molecules for treating and curing HIV infection

G Ferrari, BF Haynes, S Koenig, JL Nordstrom… - Nature reviews Drug …, 2016 - nature.com
G Ferrari, BF Haynes, S Koenig, JL Nordstrom, DM Margolis, GD Tomaras
Nature reviews Drug discovery, 2016nature.com
HIV-1 is a retrovirus that integrates into host chromatin and can remain transcriptionally
quiescent in a pool of immune cells. This characteristic enables HIV-1 to evade both host
immune responses and antiretroviral drugs, leading to persistent infection. Upon reactivation
of proviral gene expression, HIV-1 envelope (HIV-1 Env) glycoproteins are expressed on the
cell surface, transforming latently infected cells into targets for HIV-1 Env-specific
monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which can engage immune effector cells to kill productively …
Abstract
HIV-1 is a retrovirus that integrates into host chromatin and can remain transcriptionally quiescent in a pool of immune cells. This characteristic enables HIV-1 to evade both host immune responses and antiretroviral drugs, leading to persistent infection. Upon reactivation of proviral gene expression, HIV-1 envelope (HIV-1 Env) glycoproteins are expressed on the cell surface, transforming latently infected cells into targets for HIV-1 Env-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which can engage immune effector cells to kill productively infected CD4+ T cells and thus limit the spread of progeny virus. Recent innovations in antibody engineering have resulted in novel immunotherapeutics such as bispecific dual-affinity re-targeting (DART) molecules and other bi- and trispecific antibody designs that can recognize HIV-1 Env and recruit cytotoxic effector cells to kill CD4+ T cells latently infected with HIV-1. Here, we review these immunotherapies, which are designed with the goal of curing HIV-1 infection.
nature.com