Restoration of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) responses in CD8(+) T cells from late-stage patients on prolonged antiretroviral therapy by stimulation in vitro with HIV-1 protein-loaded dendritic cells

We demonstrate that dendritic cells loaded in vitro with human immunodefici ency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protein liposome complexes activate HLA class I-r estricted anti HTV-1 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma ) responses in autologous CD8(+) T cells from late-stage HIV-1-infected pat ients on prolonged combination drug therapy. Interleukin-12 enhanced this e ffect through an interleukin-2- and IFN-gamma -mediated pathway. This sugge sts that dendritic cells from HTV-1-infected persons can be engineered to e voke stronger anti-HIV CD8(+) T-cell reactivity as a strategy to augment an tiretroviral therapy.