NK cell immunotherapy administered at the time of HIV recrudescence is associated with viral control.

ABSTRACT: One barrier to developing an HIV-1 cure is viral reservoirs persisting within B cell follicles of lymphatic tissues, partly due to failure of HIV-specific cytotoxic cells to express the follicular-homing receptor CXCR5. We evaluated HIV-specific CAR/CXCR5 NK cells armored with IL-15 and a PD-1 knockout for in vitro functionality. The safety and efficacy of these NK cells were assessed in vivo by treating ART-suppressed, HIV-infected-humanized-DRAGA mice following ART interruption. In vitro, CAR and control NK cells proliferated and killed HIV-Envelope-expressing cells. In vivo, there were no adverse health outcomes associated with cell infusions. CAR NK-treated animals had, on average, 1.88 times higher NK cell levels, and cells persisted up to 2 weeks longer th

SUBMITTER: Thron LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12667934 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature