Vaccines & Vaccination

Biography

Biography: Erwann P Loret

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) eradication will require elimination of HIV infected cells. Antiretroviral treatments (cART) reduce the production of HIV from infected cells up to an undetectable level but HIV infected cells remain detectable. The reservoir of HIV infected cells is made of cells at the latent state, which is remarkably stable since its eradication in the peripheral blood even with successful cART would require at least 70 years. It was suggested that the major reservoir of latent HIV infected cells could be in the central nervous system (CNS) that would be a sanctuary where Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes (CTL) have no access and would refresh peripheral blood with activated HIV infected cells. However, the presence of a major reservoir in the CNS appears to be inconsistent with clinical studies measuring HIV DNA. The major reservoirs are gut and rectal tissues and it is clear that HIV infected cells survive in an environment containing CTL. Extra cellular Tat might protect HIV infected cells from CTL dues to its capacity to cross CTL membranes and trigger apoptosis. Evidences of Tat secretion from HIV infected cells are shown with the detection of Tat antibodies in different clinical studies. Amazingly, very few vaccinal approaches have been developed against Tat since 30 years. Clinical trials carried out mainly in Italy and recently in France show that vaccines eliciting neutralizing antibodies against Tat reduce significantly the level of HIV infected cells. It could be a first step toward HIV eradication.