Broadly neutralizing antibodies suppress HIV in the persistent viral reservoir

TW Chun, D Murray, JS Justement… - Proceedings of the …, 2014 - National Acad Sciences
TW Chun, D Murray, JS Justement, J Blazkova, CW Hallahan, O Fankuchen, K Gittens…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014National Acad Sciences
Several highly potent and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against HIV have
recently been isolated from B cells of infected individuals. However, the effects of these
antibodies on the persistent viral reservoirs in HIV-infected individuals receiving
antiretroviral therapy (ART) are unknown. We show that several HIV-specific monoclonal
antibodies—in particular, PGT121, VRC01, and VRC03—potently inhibited entry into CD4+
T cells of HIV isolated from the latent viral reservoir of infected individuals whose plasma …
Several highly potent and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against HIV have recently been isolated from B cells of infected individuals. However, the effects of these antibodies on the persistent viral reservoirs in HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) are unknown. We show that several HIV-specific monoclonal antibodies—in particular, PGT121, VRC01, and VRC03—potently inhibited entry into CD4+ T cells of HIV isolated from the latent viral reservoir of infected individuals whose plasma viremia was well controlled by ART. In addition, we demonstrate that HIV replication in autologous CD4+ T cells derived from infected individuals receiving ART was profoundly suppressed by three aforementioned and other HIV-specific monoclonal antibodies. These findings have implications for passive immunotherapy as an approach toward controlling plasma viral rebound in patients whose ART is withdrawn.
National Acad Sciences