Caracterization and loading of HIV-relevant antigens in dendritic cells aDC1 for anti-HIV immunotherapy

• Grant number: 21/06139-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Alberto José da Silva Duarte
• Grantee: Gabriela Justamante Handel Schmitz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/25212-9 - Therapeutic vaccine based on aDC1 dendritic cells pulsed with inactivated autologous virus for the control of viremia after ATI in HIV infected individuals, AP.TEM

Abstract

Dendritic cell based immunotherapy is a potential tool to stimulate a specific immuneresponse, as a complementary treatment for HIV-infected individuals using ART. Polarizing DCs are capable to produce high levels of IL-12p70 and induce a strongcytotoxic response that is very useful in viral infections. In this context, we propose to study aDC1 pulsed with autologous inactivated virus for treatment of HIV infected individuals. The study will include 30 diagnosed HIV-infected patients not ART treated at inclusion time. Six months after treatment initiation they will be immunized or not with aDC1 according to the arms of this study: G1) placebo control/without ART interruption; G2) aDC1 immunization/without ART interruption; G3) aDC1 immunization/analytical treatment interruption. Autologous PBMCs will be collected for virus isolation and patients will start ART. Waiting for 24 weeks for PVL going below detection, samples will be collected for baseline parameters and vaccine will be inoculated in 3 doses (with a fort night interval). Three weeks after 3th vaccine inoculation, ART will be interrupted only for G3 patients. Patients will be followed for more 12 weeks and blood and biopsis (jejunum) samples will be collected for different parameters measurement as immuneactivation, immunogenecity, humoral response, mucosal cellular immunity and virologic profile and viral reservoir analysis. (AU)