Transcriptomic profile of cell populations stimulated in vitro by autologous aDC1 polarizing dendritic cells derived from people living with HIV-1

• Grant number: 24/14088-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Telma Miyuki Oshiro Sumida
• Grantee: Telma Miyuki Oshiro Sumida
• Host Institution: Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alberto José da Silva Duarte ; Frederico Moraes Ferreira ; Laís Teodoro da Silva

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) based immunotherapy constitutes a potential tool to induce protective immunity and can act as an adjuvant treatment to antiretroviral therapy in the context of HIV infection. DCs interact with TCD4+ and TCD8+ lymphocytes, presenting antigens and initiating specific immune responses. In turn, the immune microenvironment is also composed of cellular subpopulations associated with a complex network of intercellular communication, which are little investigated. In particular, polarizing dendritic cells, called aDC1, direct the specific response towards a Th1 pattern, desirable in fighting viral infections, which is why these cells have been explored in clinical anti-HIV immunotherapy protocols. These facts highlight the need for more in-depth studies on the populations and processes involved in the response triggered by aDC1, which can improve anti-HIV immunotherapy. In this context, single-cell RNA sequencing technology allows the analysis of different cellular states through transcripts from the different cells involved in the process, at high resolution and on a genomic scale. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected individuals, stimulated in vitro by autologous aDC1, loaded with relevant HIV peptides, simulating an anti-HIV immunotherapy condition. Results derived from this study can identify interactions and processes at the transcriptional level, in addition to the possibility of identifying rare populations or at different stages of maturation that may be involved in the process, whose methods currently used do not allow their identification, but which could play an important role in this process. (AU)