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Review
. 2024 Jul 1;19(4):194-200.
doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000859. Epub 2024 Apr 26.

Gaining momentum: stem cell therapies for HIV cure

Amanda M Buck  1 , Brian H LaFranchi, Timothy J Henrich
Affiliations
Review

Gaining momentum: stem cell therapies for HIV cure

Amanda M Buck et al. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Durable HIV-1 remission has been reported in a person who received allogeneic stem cell transplants (SCTs) involving CCR5 Δ32/Δ32 donor cells. Much of the reduction in HIV-1 burden following allogeneic SCT with or without donor cells inherently resistant to HIV-1 infection is likely due to cytotoxic graft-versus-host effects on residual recipient immune cells. Nonetheless, there has been growing momentum to develop and implement stem cell therapies that lead to durable long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free remission without the need for SCT.

Recent findings: Most current research leverages gene editing techniques to modify hematopoietic stem cells which differentiate into immune cells capable of harboring HIV-1. Approaches include targeting genes that encode HIV-1 co-receptors using Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFN) or CRISPR-Cas-9 to render a pool of adult or progenitor cells resistant to de-novo infection. Other strategies involve harnessing multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells to foster immune environments that can more efficiently recognize and target HIV-1 while promoting tissue homeostasis.

Summary: Many of these strategies are currently in a state of infancy or adolescence; nonetheless, promising preclinical and first-in-human studies have been performed, providing further rationale to focus resources on stem cell therapies.

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Conflict of interest statement

T.J.H. receives grant support from PolyBio and Merck and Co., and T.J.H. has consulted for Roche.

Figures

Box 1
Box 1
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FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Summary of stem cell and gene therapies currently being applied in HIV cure therapies. Overlapping areas indicate a combination of two techniques. Created on BioRender (4/2/2024).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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