Type 1-programmed dendritic cells drive antigen-specific latency reversal and immune elimination of persistent HIV-1
BACKGROUND: T cells within those who are infected. Finding a safe and effective means to induce latency reversal (LR) during ART to specifically expose this latent HIV-1 cellular reservoir for immune elimination has been a major barrier to a functional cure. METHODS: T cell targets. FINDINGS: T cells facilitated HIV-1 LR. This antigen-driven MDC1-mediated LR was sharply diminished with blockade of the CD40L/CD40 'helper' signaling pathway. Importantly, these antigen-presenting MDC1 also activated the expansion of CTL capable of killing the exposed HIV-1-infected targets. INTERPRETATION: T cells harboring HIV-1, and to support CTL responses that can effectively target the MDC1-exposed HIV-1 cellular reservoir as a functional cure strategy. FUND: This study was supported by the NIH-NAID grants R21-AI131763, U01-AI35041, UM1-AI126603, and T32-AI065380.