Dendritic cells used in anti-HIV immunotherapy showed different modulation in anti-HIV genes expression: New concept for the improvement of patients' selection criteria

Abstract

Objective

As the host's genetics influences immune response to HIV-1 and progression to AIDS, similar genetic factors could affect response to immunotherapy. Differential genes expression was evaluated in clinical trial, aimed at identifying a potential predictive marker for DC quality and, finally, for therapy responsiveness.

Methods and Results

DC used for immunotherapy revealed a clear difference of anti-HIV genes signature, so we classified DC into two groups (A-DC and B-DC). In A-DC a limited number of genes, including inflammasome-related genes (IL1B, IL18), were modulated during monocytes-to-DC differentiation. A larger subset of anti-HIV genes (restriction factors, co-factors, apoptotic factors) was modulated in B-DC. This more “activated/exhausted” expression profile of B-DC apparently resulted from a more activated monocyte precursor.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the actual selection of HIV⁺ individual for immunotherapy, based on clinical features, did not ensure the same DC product, and that less “activated/exhausted” DC could positively affect the outcome of immunotherapy.