Lieberman J, Fabry JA, Skolnik PR, Parkerson GR, Fong DM, Kagan J, Standiford H, Lee E, Landry B; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12; 10: 220 (abstract no. PB0311).
New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility, safety and tolerance of treating patients with CD4 counts of 100-400/mm3 by infusion of HIV-specific CTL in an attempt to bolster host immunity to control the virus. METHODS: The CTL response to HIV-1 is dominated by the recognition of a small number of peptides encoded by HIV-1 structural and regulatory genes. We are able to expand selectively HIV-specific CTL ex vivo by culture with autologous antigen-presenting cells preincubated with immunodominant HIV-1 peptides. In this pilot trial, groups of 5-8 patients are treated by a single infusion of 1 or 5 billion CTL, selectively expanded to recognize and lyse HIV-expressing targets, and followed for 6 months as to clinical course, T cell counts, viral burden in the blood, surrogate markers of infection and HIV-specific cellular immunity. RESULTS: In the first 9 patients followed for up to 6 months, no toxicity was associated with the infusion. Preliminary data reveal a rise in HIV-specific peripheral blood CTL in most patients. Following treatment some patients show CTL activity to previously unrecognized HIV proteins. Data will be presented about changes in viral titers in the peripheral blood as well as in surrogate markers of disease including CD4 counts. CONCLUSIONS: Immunotherapy with ex vivo-expanded autologous HIV-specific CTL is safe and feasible. Because of preliminary encouraging results, we are currently planning to reinfuse treated patients and to treat another cohort with multiple infusions.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- Humans
- Immunotherapy
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
- Viral Load
Other ID:
UI: 102208596
From Meeting Abstracts