PD-1 blockade and vaccination provide therapeutic benefit against SIV by inducing broad and functional CD8⁺ T cells in lymphoid tissue.

ABSTRACT: During antiretroviral therapy (ART), most of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoirs persist in the B cell follicles (BCFs) of lymphoid tissue. Thus, for HIV cure strategies, it is critical to generate cytolytic CD8⁺ T cells that home to BCF, reduce the reservoir burden, and maintain strong antiviral responses in the absence of ART. Here, using a chronic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/rhesus macaque model, we showed that therapeutic vaccination under ART using a CD40L plus TLR7 agonist–adjuvanted DNA/modified vaccinia Ankara vaccine regimen induced robust and highly functional, SIV-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses. In addition, the vaccination induced SIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells in the lymph nodes (LNs) that could home to BCF.

SUBMITTER: Rahman SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8500359 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature