SARS CoV-2 mRNA vaccination exposes latent HIV to Nef-specific CD8⁺ T-cells.

ABSTRACT: Efforts to cure HIV have focused on reactivating latent proviruses to enable elimination by CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-cells. Clinical studies of latency reversing agents (LRA) in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated individuals have shown increases in HIV transcription, but without reductions in virologic measures, or evidence that HIV-specific CD8⁺ T-cells were productively engaged. Here, we show that the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 activates the RIG-I/TLR - TNF - NFκb axis, resulting in transcription of HIV proviruses with minimal perturbations of T-cell activation and host transcription. T-cells specific for the early gene-product HIV-Nef uniquely increased in frequency and acquired effector function (granzyme-B) in ART-treated individuals following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vac

SUBMITTER: Stevenson EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9389512 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature