HIV-1 proviral DNA in purified peripheral blood CD34<sup>+</sup> stem and progenitor cells in individuals with long-term HAART; paving the way to HIV gene therapy
Issued Date
2024-02-29
Resource Type
ISSN
24058440
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85185780300
Journal Title
Heliyon
Volume
10
Issue
4
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Heliyon Vol.10 No.4 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Tassaneetrithep B., Phuphuakrat A., Pasomsub E., Bhukhai K., Wongkummool W., Priengprom T., Khamaikawin W., Chaisavaneeyakorn S., Anurathapan U., Apiwattanakul N., Hongeng S. HIV-1 proviral DNA in purified peripheral blood CD34<sup>+</sup> stem and progenitor cells in individuals with long-term HAART; paving the way to HIV gene therapy. Heliyon Vol.10 No.4 (2024). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26613 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/97439
Title
HIV-1 proviral DNA in purified peripheral blood CD34<sup>+</sup> stem and progenitor cells in individuals with long-term HAART; paving the way to HIV gene therapy
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection is an important public health problem worldwide. After primary HIV-1 infection, transcribed HIV-1 DNA is integrated into the host genome, serving as a reservoir of the virus and hindering a definite cure. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy suppresses active viral replication, resulting in undetectable levels of HIV RNA in the blood, a viral rebound can be detected after a few weeks of treatment interruption. This supports the concept that there is a stable HIV-1 reservoir in people living with HIV-1. Recently, a few individuals with HIV infection were reported to be probably cured by hematopoietic stem transplantation (HSCT). The underlying mechanism for this success involved transfusion of uninfected hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from CCR5-mutated donors who were naturally resistant to HIV infection. Thus, gene editing technology to provide HIV-resistant HSPC has promise in the treatment of HIV infections by HSCT. In this study, we aimed to find HIV-infected individuals likely to achieve a definite cure via gene editing HSCT. We screened for total HIV proviral DNA by Alu PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 20 HIV-infected individuals with prolonged viral suppression. We assessed the amount of intact proviral DNA via a modified intact proviral DNA assay (IPDA) in purified peripheral CD34+ HSPCs. PBMCs from all 20 individuals were positive for the gag gene in Alu PCR, and peripheral CD34+ HSPCs were IPDA-negative for six individuals. Our results suggested that these six HIV-infected individuals could be candidates for further studies into the ability of gene editing HSCT to lead to a definite HIV cure.