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Pharmacological modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibits the proliferation of long-lived latently-infected memory CD4+ T-cells in ART-suppressed SIV-infected macaques

ABSTRACT: The major obstacle to human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) eradication is a reservoir of latently-infected cells that persists despite long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) and is maintained through cellular proliferation. Long-lived memory CD4+ T-cells with high self-renewal capacity such as central memory T-cells (CM) and T memory stem cells (SCM) are major contributors to the viral reservoir in HIV-infected individuals on ART. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of SCM and CM T-cells and pharmacological manipulation of this pathway offers an opportunity to interfere with the proliferation of latently-infected cells. Here, we evaluated in vivo a novel approach to inhibit self-renewal of SCM and CM CD4+ T-cells in the rhesus macaque (RM) model of SIV infection. We used an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, PRI-724, that blocks the interaction between the co-activator CREB binding protein (CBP) and β-catenin, resulting in the cell fate decision to differentiate rather than proliferate. Our study shows that PRI-724 treatment of ART-suppressed SIVmac251-infected RMs: (i) was well tolerated, with blood counts, liver enzymes, and renal function within normal limits and no alteration of tri-lineage hematopoiesis observed in bone marrow, (ii) resulted in decreased proliferation of SCM and CM T-cells, (iii) modified the SCM and CM CD4+ T-cell transcriptome towards a profile of more differentiated memory T-cells, and (iv) reduced SIV-DNA levels in CM and TFH CD4+ T-cells in the lymph nodes, but did not decrease the overall viral reservoir size. This work is the first demonstration in vivo that pharmacological modulation can effectively target T cell stemness in long-lived memory CD4+ T-cells, and represents a potential strategy to reduce HIV persistence.

ORGANISM(S): Macaca mulatta

PROVIDER: GSE127330 | GEO | 2022/02/24

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:HIV-1 infection of resting memory CD4+ T cells forms a barrier to curing HIV-1. Identification of immune biomarkers that correlate with HIV-1 reservoir size could aid with assessing efficacy of HIV-1 eradication strategies, especially in pediatric infections where blood sampling is limited. In adults, the immune exhaustion marker PD-1 on central memory CD4+ T cells (Tcm) correlates with HIV-1 reservoir size. Immune correlates of HIV-1 reservoir size are less defined in perinatal infection. Using multi-parameter flow cytometry, we examined immune activation (CD69, CD25, HLA-DR), and exhaustion (PD-1, TIGIT, LAG-3 and TIM-3) markers on CD4+ T cell subsets (naïve (Tn), central memory (Tcm), and a combination (Ttem) of transitional (Ttm) and effector memory (Tem) in 10 children living with HIV-1 (median age 15.9 years; median duration of virologic suppression 7.0 years), in whom HIV-1 reservoir size was determined with both the Intact Proviral HIV-1 DNA assay (IPDA) and the Tat/Rev limiting dilution assay (TILDA). Total HIV-1 DNA in CD4+ T cells was also measured. Correlations between immune activation, and exhaustion markers on T cell subsets with the various markers of proviral reservoir size, and baseline CD4+ T cell transcriptomes were examined. The median total HIV-1 DNA concentration was 211.9 copies per million CD4+ T cells, with a median intact proviral load in individuals with HIV-1 subtype B of 8.0 copies per million CD4+ T cells. Levels of HLA-DR and TIGIT on Ttem were strongly correlated with total HIV-1 DNA (r=0.758, p=0.015) and (r=0.721, p=0.023), respectively, but not with intact proviral load or inducible reservoir size. HIV-1 DNA load was also positively correlated with transcriptional clusters associated with HLA-DR. In contrast, PD-1 expression on Tcm was inversely correlated with both total HIV-1 DNA (r=-0.67, p=0.039) and HLA-DR in Ttem (r=-0.89, p=0.060). Gene expression profiles for HLA-DR and PD-1 were also inversely correlated. In conclusion, with virologically suppressed perinatal HIV-1 infection, HLA-DR and TIGIT on Ttem CD4+ T cells correlate with total HIV-1 DNA, and may serve as immune biomarkers for transcriptionally active proviruses, including defectives persisting on ART.

Project description:We assessed correlates of protection from disease progression in a rare subset of HIV-infected individuals, viremic non-progressors (VNPs). These individuals have high viral load for several years, but in contrast to the majority of infected individuals, they do not progress to AIDS. Here we found this lack of progression was associated with selective preservation of two essential subsets of memory CD4+ T cells, central memory (TCM) and stem-cell memory (TSCM) cells. Compared to HIV-infected putative progressors, VNPs had higher proliferation of these indispensable subsets of memory cells, which was associated with the number of TCM. In addition, the long-lived CD4+ TCM and TSCM cells in VNPs had decreased HIV infection compared to the less critical effector memory CD4+ T cells, which indicates a possible mechanism by which VNPs maintain their CD4+ T cell pool after several years of infection, and remain free from AIDS progression. 6 HIV-infected patients fitting the clinical criteria of Viremic Non-Progressors were identified. VNPs were defined as having confirmed HIV-1 infection for at least 9 years with sustained plasma HIV RNA levels >10,000 copies/ml and maintenance of peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts >500 cells/mm3 and a CD4% (of all lymphocytes) >15%. As controls, 7 HIV-infected Putative Progressors were identified. PPs were defined as having plasma HIV RNA levels >10,000 copies/mL, CD4+ T cell counts >400 cells/mm3 and having been initially infected with HIV 2-24 months prior to the index visit. The estimated date of initial HIV infection was calculated according to published algorithms that incorporate âde-tunedâ anti-HIV-1 antibody ELISA results or by a documented sero-conversion window of <6 months. All participants were required to be antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naÃ¯ve. RNA from 6 VNP and 7 PPs was purified from PAXgene whole blood tubes and hybridized to Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. During data analysis, one VNP patient (PID 4015) was determined to be an outlier and removed from further analysis. Thus, 5 VNPs and 7 PPs are represented in this Series.

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Pharmacological modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibits the proliferation of long-lived latently-infected memory CD4+ T-cells in ART-suppressed SIV-infected macaques

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