Transient CD4-cell-depletion therapy for HIV/AIDS cure

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still a threat to global public health, with around 38 million people living with HIV by the end of 2019 (http://www.unaids.org). Until now, there is not a routine cure therapy available for HIV/ AIDS. Anti-HIV inhibitors, such as reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and entry inhibitors, were all applied in HIV/AIDS patients. Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) can effectively control HIV replication, but cannot eradicate the HIV reservoir. HIV reservoir is the major barrier for HIV cure and is the major cause for HIV rebound after anti-HIV treatment interruption. HIV reservoir, here defined as resting CD4 cells that harbor replication-competent HIV, is established in 2 to 3 days of HIV primary infection. HIV remains quiescent in long-lived memory CD4 cells, and therefore is not sensitive to cART.