Short-Course Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonist Treatment Impacts Innate Immunity and Plasma Viremia in Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Line Vibholm, Mariane H Schleimann, Jesper F Højen, Thomas Benfield, Rasmus Offersen, Anders Dige, Jørgen Agnholt, Judith Grau, Maria Buzon, Burghardt Wittig, Mathias Lichterfeld, Andreas Munk Petersen, Xutao Deng, Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen, Satish K Pillai, Sofie Rutsaert, Wim Trypsteen, Ward De Spiegelaere, Linos Vandekerchove, Lars ØstergaardPaul W Denton, Martin Tolstrup, Ole S Søgaard

63 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Background.: Treatment with latency reversing agents (LRAs) enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcription in vivo but leads to only modest reductions in the size of the reservoir, possibly due to insufficient immune-mediated elimination of infected cells. We hypothesized that a single drug molecule-a novel Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, MGN1703-could function as an enhancer of innate immunity and an LRA in vivo.

Methods.: We conducted a single-arm, open-label study in which 15 virologically suppressed HIV-1-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy received 60 mg MGN1703 subcutaneously twice weekly for 4 weeks. We characterized plasmacytoid dendritic cell, natural killer (NK), and T-cell activation using flow cytometry on baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. HIV-1 transcription was quantified by measuring plasma HIV-1 RNA during MGN1703 administration.

Results.: In accordance with the cell type-specific expression of TLR9, MGN1703 treatment led to pronounced activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and substantial increases in plasma interferon-α2 levels (P < .0001). Consistently, transcription of interferon-stimulated genes (eg, OAS1, ISG15, Mx1; each P < .0001) were upregulated in CD4+ T cells as demonstrated by RNA sequencing. Further, proportions of activated cytotoxic NK cells and CD8+ T cells increased significantly during MGN1703 dosing, suggesting an enhancement of cellular immune responses. In 6 of 15 participants, plasma HIV-1 RNA increased from <20 copies/mL to >1500 copies/mL (range, 21-1571 copies/mL) during treatment.

Conclusions.: TLR9 agonist treatment in HIV infection has a dual potential by increasing HIV-1 transcription and enhancing cytotoxic NK cell activation, both of which are key outcomes in HIV-1 eradication therapy.

Clinical Trials Registration.: NCT02443935.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftClinical Infectious Diseases
Vol/bind64
Udgave nummer12
Sider (fra-til)1686-1695
ISSN1058-4838
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 15 jun. 2017

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