Vpx-containing dendritic cell vaccine induces CTLs and reactivates latent HIV-1 in vitro.

ABSTRACT: Eradication of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) from an infected individual requires a means of inducing production of virus from latently infected cells and stimulating an immune response against the infected cells. We report the development of lentiviral vectors that transduce dendritic cells (DCs) to both induce production of virus from latently infected cells and stimulate antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The vectors package Vpx, a lentiviral accessory protein that counteracts the SAMHD1-mediated block to DC transduction, allowing for long-term expression of vector-encoded proteins. The vectors encode influenza or HIV-1-derived epitopes fused via a self-cleaving peptide to CD40L that releases the peptide into the endoplasmic reticulum for entry into the antigen pr

SUBMITTER: Norton TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4698816 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature