Evolving Strategies to Eliminate the CD4 T Cells HIV Viral Reservoir via CAR T Cell Immunotherapy.

Although the advent of ART has significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection, the stable pool of HIV in latently infected cells requires lifelong treatment adherence, with the cessation of ART resulting in rapid reactivation of the virus and productive HIV infection. Therefore, these few cells containing replication-competent HIV, known as the latent HIV reservoir, act as the main barrier to immune clearance and HIV cure. While several strategies involving HIV silencing or its reactivation in latently infected cells for elimination by immune responses have been explored, exciting cell based immune therapies involving genetically engineered T cells expressing synthetic chimeric receptors (CAR T cells) are highly appealing and promising. CAR T cells, in contrast to endogenous cytotoxic T cells, can function independently of MHC to target HIV-infected cells, are efficacious and have demonstrated acceptable safety profiles and long-term persistence in peripheral blood. In this review, we present a comprehensive picture of the current efforts to target the HIV latent reservoir, with a focus on CAR T cell therapies. We highlight the current challenges and advances in this field, while discussing the importance of novel CAR designs in the efforts to find a HIV cure.

Introduction

Over forty years of HIV research has resulted in the management of this infection as a chronic disease, primarily due to the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) in addition to improved community, sexual, drug and occupational health practices (1). However, despite these successes, there is currently no effective vaccine for the virus, and HIV cannot be fully eradicated from patients due to the establishment of the HIV latent reservoir, defined here as cells containing replication-competent HIV. In 2018, 1.7 million people were newly infected with HIV worldwide, bringing the global disease burden to over 37 million. Currently anti-retroviral therapy (ART) inhibits HIV replication at several stages of the virus lifecycle (2). If ART is received early during acute infection, long-term control without viral rebound following withdrawal of treatment has been observed in patients, referred to as post-treatment controllers (PTCs) (3). The immune system in PTCs is able to control viremia and limit the HIV latent reservoir size even after the cessation of ART (3). Levels of CD4 T cell activation have been found to be lower in PTCs than in non-controllers. Furthermore, CD8 T and natural killer (NK) cell responses are more efficient, and levels of inflammation are low (4). Although ART has significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection (2), the enduring pool of replication-competent proviruses in latently infected cells requires lifelong treatment adherence which is associated with long-term toxicities, issues of compliance, expense, and inconvenience. Furthermore, it has been shown that HIV-infected individuals on ART have an increased risk of malignancies, cardiovascular and neurologic disease (5). The latter is attributed to HIV infection of macrophages, astrocytes and microglia in the central nervous system (6). However, the largest HIV reservoir reside in resting CD4 T cells. We and others have previously reviewed the CD4 T cell subsets in which HIV persists (7, 8). In addition, our recent study has revealed the HIV proviral landscape is different across naïve and memory CD4 T cell subsets and that the viral protein Nef plays a role in the persistence of genetically intact HIV within the effector memory CD4 T cells (9). Reactivation of replication-competent virus (intact) in CD4 T cells upon cessation of treatment remains a major drawback of ART (10). Therefore, the latent HIV reservoir acts as the main barrier to immune clearance and HIV cure.

Innate and Adaptive Immune Response to HIV Infection

Innate immunity is mediated upon pathogen encounter by cells to directly destroy invading pathogens or control them via production of inflammatory cytokines such as interferon (IFN) and interleukin (IL)-15. Adaptive immunity can be humoral acting in extracellular spaces via antibody production by B cells, or T cell-mediated effectors which act once pathogens invade cells leading to the induction of memory CD4 and CD8 T cells for faster responses during pathogen re-exposure.

Interferon and the Innate Immune Response

Type I IFNs include IFNα, IFNβ, IFNϵ, IFNω, and IFNκ (11). Thirteen subtypes of human IFNα and IFNβ signal through the IFNα receptor (IFNAR) (12). Type II and III IFNs include IFNγ and IFNλ1-4, which signal through the IFNγ and IFNλ receptors, respectively (11). Type I and type II IFNs are key mediators of antiviral immunity, whilst type III IFN activity is limited to epithelial cell surfaces due to restricted expression of the IFN-λ receptors (13). We have previously reviewed the induction of IFN in myeloid DCs, macrophages, CD4 T cells and pDCs (14) and outlined that many viruses interfere with IFN induction to evade innate immune recognition. HIV is no exception as we have shown that HIV inhibits IFNβ production in DCs and macrophages (15) via the HIV-accessory protein Vpr which blocks the phosphorylation of TBK1, preventing the phosphorylation of IRF3 and its subsequent translocation to the nucleus to induce IFNβ (16). In CD4 T cells, Vpu, Vpr or Vif directly degrade IRF3 (17). Despite HIV mediated blocking of IFNβ production in its key target cells, IFN has been detected in the circulation of HIV patients within 1-2 weeks of infection (18) with pDCs being the main source of IFN production. Therefore, pDCs can compensate for the loss of IFN inhibition in HIV key target cells. pDCs and IFN and have been associated with antiviral responses that limit early SIV/HIV replication and dissemination in macaque and humanized mouse models respectively (19, 20). Moreover, Type I IFNs enhance immune cell activation and effector functions, particularly the proliferation and survival of NK cells, DC maturation, priming of T cell responses, promotion of Th cell survival, activation and expansion of CD8 T cell, B cell class switching and affinity maturation (21).

Natural Killer Cells and the Innate Immune Response

To control initial HIV infection, NK cells are activated and proliferate prior to peak viremia (22). NK cell immunoglobulin-like receptors can interact with cells expressing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules to limit HIV viral replication during acute infection. However, similar to the inhibition of type I IFN responses in early HIV infection, HIV has evolved mechanisms to decrease expression of ligands important in triggering NK cell cytotoxic responses and therefore interferes with lysis of infected cells (23).

Adaptive Immune Responses

Adaptive immune responses are initiated as innate immunity involving the NK cytotoxic response and IFN induction is inhibited. However, there is a dampened CD4 T cell response in acute HIV infection due to their significant early depletion upon exposure to HIV (24). Early ART administration to control viremia prevents the killing of CD4 T cells and rescues potent CD4 T cell responses (25). The initial adaptive immune response depends mainly on cytotoxic CD8 T cells to limit or inhibit viral spread. However, a rapid decline of CD8 T cell responses occurs limiting its effectiveness. The recapitulation of this phenomenon in a CD4 depleted mouse model suggests that CD4 T cells are required for the maintenance of long-lived memory CD8 T cells in the context of acute HIV infection (26).

Although the early CD8 T cell response peaks later than viral load, there is much evidence for the importance of CD8 T cells in controlling HIV replication via: the association of HIV-specific CD8 T cells with a decrease in HIV-infected cells in acutely infected patients (27); restriction of viral replication and disease progression in chronically infected patients, especially elite controllers (28); prevention of viral escape mutations (29); maintaining viral suppression in SIV-infected macaques (30). Various studies in macaques have shown that stimulation of SIV-specific CD8 T cell responses by vaccines can attenuate SIV infection (31) and in vivo exhaustion of CD8 T cells in this model limited viral control in acute infection (32). CD8 T cell responses during initial HIV infection target mutable regions of the virus to decrease replication efficiency and contribute to the control of HIV infection (33). This early CD8 T cell response is observed days prior to the peak of viremia and targets epitopes found in HIV Env and Nef (34). However, it has been demonstrated that escape mutants, which cannot be recognized by initially generated cytotoxic CD8 T cells, are generated within 10 to 21 days post infection in response to potent T cell responses (35). Therefore, although the initial CD8 T cell response restricts viremia in acute HIV infection, their target epitopes are subsequently mutated resulting in immune escape.

In addition, HIV-specific CD8 T cell cytotoxic responses decrease with disease progression, due to a reduction in their frequency, increased activation, and immune exhaustion (36). CD8 T cells with higher expression of activation and immune exhaustion markers such as programmed death (PD)-1 and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) have been detected in untreated HIV-infected patients in contrast to seronegative patients (37). Expression of PD-1 is associated with a lower degranulation capacity and a diminished population of IL-17-producing cells following polyclonal stimulation (38). Exhausted CD8 T cells are also more susceptible to apoptosis (39). The loss of CD4 T cell assistance, persistent viral antigen load, chronic inflammation (40) and lack of co-stimulation (41) have been proposed to contribute to CD8 T cell dysfunction during chronic HIV infection. Furthermore, increased expression of inhibitory molecules, competitive signalling between TCRs, upregulated inhibitory receptors on the responding CD8 T cells and the modulation of intracellular signalling pathways can all contribute to the lack of co-stimulation and dampening of the CD8 T cell response to infection (42).

Strategies to Eliminate the HIV Latent Reservoir

Current ART therapies targeting HIV suppress viral replication to undetectable levels allowing infected individuals to live without clinical symptoms, provided ART is maintained (43). Therefore, development of a cure to HIV patients relies on approaches aimed at eliminating cells harbouring latent and replication competent virions or removing the HIV provirus from the genome by gene editing. Some of these approaches have been addressed recently by Deeks et al. and are summarised below (8).

Block and Lock

Several compounds have been developed to inhibit both the basal and signal induced activity of the nuclear transcription factor NFκB, a key mediator of HIV gene expression (44). However, the HIV LTR is sensitive to a variety of activating factors and inhibiting a single mediator such as NFκB is unlikely to silence all HIV viral RNA expression. To this end, constitutive suppression of the HIV LTR transcription using short hairpin RNAs targeting the LTR enhancer region of HIV (45) were effective in preventing viral RNA transcription. Such strategies involving recombinant proteins or RNA interference require specific targeting and expression cassettes for delivery to latently infected cells. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors have also been explored as a block and lock strategy. Since heat shock proteins are required for the production of viral proteins (46), HSP90 inhibitors have been shown to suppress HIV transcription and replication (47). Perhaps the most advanced block and lock strategy employs didehydro-cortistatin A (dCA), a Tat inhibitor, to silence HIV transcription. It is known that viral Tat recruits and activates RNAPII for stimulation of HIV transcriptional elongation (48). Using dCA, Kessing et al. showed that prior treatment with dCA delayed and reduced viral rebound both in vitro and in vivo (49). In addition to silencing strategies, genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9, ZFNs and TALENs have been applied to highly conserved sequences within the LTR to eliminate the HIV provirus genome in vitro (50). These approaches would allow for highly specific targeting of latently infected cells, however off-target endonuclease activity may occur, and development of effective gene delivery vehicles remain important challenges.

Kick and Kill

Latently infected resting memory T cells do not express HIV peptides on their cell surface and consequently evade immune detection and cell lysis. Therefore, HIV activation and infected cell elimination strategies, termed “kick and kill”, are based on reactivation of HIV provirus from latently infected cells for expression of viral peptides followed by elimination via viral cytopathic effects or CD8 T cell mediated immune responses (51). The first generation of LRAs, including histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and protein kinase C (PKC) activators were disappointing due mainly to a lack of potency and/or unacceptable toxicity (52). However, other studies have generated positive results both in vitro and using animal models for HIV latency, demonstrating induction of robust HIV expression using bryostatin, a PKC activator (53), and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC) mimetics to activate NF-kB signalling and reverse HIV-1 latency (54). Clinical trials have highlighted that a high concentration of LRAs is required for potent reactivation of latently infected cells, but this led to off-target effects and cytotoxicity (55). Lowering the toxicity of LRAs combined with multiple dosing were effective in improving the ‘kick’ strategies (55). One negative feature of LRAs is their suppressive effects on the cytolytic function of CTLs (56). Therefore, alternative strategies have been proposed, including use of either the SMAC mimetics that activate the non-canonical nuclear factor kB (NFkB) pathway (54) or the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR-7) agonists that mediate activation of HIV-specific CTLs (57). These strategies have shown increased reactivation and cell killing of latently infected cells, indicating that a robust immune response competent enough to remove the reactivated viral reservoir is needed (58).

Recently, a novel finding of HIV reactivation via IFN was reported (59) and showed that IFNα but no other IFN subtypes was able to efficiently reverse latency in both an in vitro model and in CD4 T cells collected from HIV patients on suppressive ART (59). This is similar to our recent findings of latency reversal in in vitro infected resting memory CD4 T cells (60) treated with IFNα8 or co-cultured with pDCs that secreted IFNα upon HIV exposure. Data from in vitro and humanized mice studies showed that IFNα8 and IFNα14 are more efficient at inhibiting HIV viral replication than IFNα2 (61) due to their higher affinities for the IFN receptor and the increased induction of antiviral proteins. Therefore, HIV reactivation by a specific type of IFNα should provide another promising strategy to reactivate and purge latently infected cells with the added benefit of inhibiting viral spread to adjacent cells (60) while avoiding the suppressive effects of LRAs on the cytolytic function of CD8 T cells. Altogether, this suggests that a combination of the above strategies may be required for an optimal “kick and kill” strategy.

Activation and elimination components are influenced by several factors. As HIV integrates within transcribed regions of the chromosome, it has been demonstrated that responsiveness of HIV provirus to T cell signalling and chromatin modifying agonists dependent on the site of integration (62). Therefore, a major challenge in developing robust LRAs is the broad range of responses of the integrated proviruses at distinct chromosomal locations (62). For example, although most provirus is responsive to T cell signalling induced by a combination of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, it has been shown that only small proportion of provirus is induced by treating patients with chromatin modifying agents (63). Due to regulation of viral transcription by cell signalling pathways linked to TCR engagement and T cell activation responses, forced induction of viral expression without promotion of mass T cell activation, leading to cytokine release syndrome, remains a major challenge (64).

As described earlier increased PD-1 and TIM-3 expression on CD8 T cells in HIV patients results in lower degranulation capacity, indicating that the immune system after ART is incapable of a sufficient anti-HIV cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to eliminate reactivated cells (65). To combat this, various strategies to augment anti-HIV cellular immune responses are being explored. IL-15 treatment has been shown ex vivo to enhance elimination of resting CD4 T cells isolated from HIV-patients treated with LRAs by inducing NK activity (66). B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) regulates apoptosis, inhibits T-cell mediated cytotoxicity pathways and has been identified in primary CD4 T cells that survived co-culture with HIV-specific CTLs (67). Addition of Bcl-2 antagonists in co-cultures of latently infected CD4 and CTLs reduced latently infected target cells when compared with CTL and LRAs alone (68). Adoptive cell therapies have revolutionised the way we can empower the immune response and direct it against specific targets in a precise and controlled manner. In recent years major advances have been made in engineering human T cells by introducing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to enable specific lysis. This approach has been approved as treatment for haematological malignancies and it is being extended to other diseases, including autoimmunity, fungal and viral infections.

Broadly Neutralising Antibodies

Although the initial production of antibodies in response to HIV is non-neutralizing, in part due to targeting antigens on the HIV envelope transmembrane gp41, potent broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAbs) specific for conserved regions of HIV gp120 are generated in 1-2% of patients many years after initial infection (69). The mechanism by which bnAbs are generated in chronic patients is not well understood. However, recent structural, virologic and immunological studies have provided strong evidence of how virus–antibody co-evolution throughout the natural course of the disease are synergistically associated with sequential development of potent bnAbs via somatic hypermutations and maturation of antibody genes (70). Early studies employing passive immunotherapies of such anti-HIV antibodies have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes associated with reduction in plasma viral RNA load and delayed appearance of AIDS-defining illnesses (71). A limited number of studies has demonstrated that bnAbs may act on latently infected cells after their reactivation. For example, 3BNC117 induced cytolysis of latently infected cells and PGT121 significantly reduced HIV DNA after passive administration to non-human primates (72). bnAbs can bind and neutralise viral envelopes expressed on infected cells, following viral reactivation. They can enhance lysis of infected cells by antigen-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) with the recruitment of NK cells and can also prevent seeding of additional latently infected cells (73). However, although bnAbs exhibit remarkable breadth and potency in their ability to neutralize HIV and prevent spread, they rely on functional NK cells to directly recognise and lyse infected cells during chronic HIV infection (74). In addition, latently infected cells express only integrated HIV DNA and thus remain invisible to the NK and CD8 T cells without HIV reactivation by latency reversal agents (LRAs). Currently, bnAbs are under investigation for treatment and prevention of HIV infection (75) and have demonstrated pre-clinical success in use as novel immunotherapies targeting the virus (76).

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are synthetic receptors expressed on T cells that confer novel specificity by combining chosen antigen binding moieties and T cell activating functional domains. CAR expressing T cells (CAR T cells) recognise antigens independent of major histocompatibility class (MHC) presentation and can therefore be used in immunotherapy to recognise, target, and destroy antigen expressing cells in a specific manner. This MHC independent mechanism of action can be particularly attractive in targeting HIV infected cells as the virus is well known to down regulate MHC-I molecules (77). Chimeric antigen receptors have been well described by Rafiq et al. and are structured as discrete modules ( ) with an antigen recognition domain typically derived from single chain fragments of the variable regions (scFv) of the light and heavy chains of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (78). In addition, novel non-antibody-based approaches have been employed which can include natural receptors, ligands, nanobodies, cytokines and peptides (78). A hinge or spacer region links the antigen recognition domain to the transmembrane domain and a T cell isignalling domain (CD3ζ domain from the TCR complex) (78). Incorporation of costimulatory domains provide the required co-stimulation for a robust response. Domains from proteins of the CD28 family (CD28 and inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS)), or the tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family (41BB (CD137)) and TNFR superfamily (member 4 (OX40) or CD27) have been used for this co-stimulation (78). Although several costimulatory domains have been trialled in vitro, CD28 and 4-1BB have been the most successful and are used in clinical products (78). For a comprehensive review of CAR engineering strategies refer to Rafiq et al. (78). Various vectors and trategies have been utilized in the production of CAR-T cells and are summarised in .

Figure 1

(A) Structure of chimeric antigen receptor. Antigen receptor domains are linked to transmembrane domains and intracellular signalling domains consisting of co-stimulatory domains and CD3ζ by hinge regions. scFvs are common as antigen recognition domains, although ligands can be used to take advantage of ligand-receptor interactions. (B) Evolution of chimeric antigen receptors. Antigen recognition domains are linked to CD3ζ in first generation CARs and activity was improved by addition of co-stimulatory domains in second and third generations. Fourth generation TRUCKs include inducible transcription of transgenes (such as IL-12) to second generation CARs. scFv, single chain variable fragment; CAR, chimeric antigen receptor TRUCK, T cell redirected for universal cytokine killing; bnAb, broadly neutralising antibody; CRD, carbohydrate recognition domain. Created with BioRender. Adapted from Rafiq et al. (78).

Table 1

Current ex vivo genetic engineering strategies for CAR expression.

Genetic engineering	Transgene delivery/Promoter	Transgene insertion/gene expression	Strengths	Limitations
Retrovirus: Lentivirus, gamma retrovirus (79)	Transduction/Exogenous	Non-targeted integration/Stable	high transduction efficiency	size restriction, expensive production, induction of an immune response, insertional mutagenesis
Transposase enzyme: PiggyBac,and sleeping Beauty (80)	Electroporation/Exogenous	Non-targeted integration/Stable	integrating larger transgenes,inexpensive production	Less developed technology than retroviral vectors,off-target cleavage and insertional mutagenesis
mRNA (81)	Electroporation/NA	Transient	Limits off-target effects	expression is rapidly diluted during T cell expansion
Non-integrative lentivirus: NILV-S/MAR (82)	Transduction/Exogenous	Episomal/Transient	Episomal maintenance prevents insertional mutagenesis	Expensive production, constant redosing required
Endonuclease enzymes: ZFNs, TALENs, CRISPR/Cas9 (83)	Electroporation/Endogenous	Targeted integration/Stable	Site-directed insertion	Not yet fully optimized

non-integrative lentivirus containing scaffold/matrix attachment region (NILV-S/MAR); zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs); transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENS); clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR).

CAR T cells have shown phenomenal success against hematologic malignancies with close to 90% response in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoma targeting CD19 (84). A recent reportshowed persistence of CD19 CAR T cells 10 years after infusion and leading to complete remission (85), further validating CAR T cells as paradigm shifting therapies. Four CAR T cell products (targeting CD19) for leukaemia and lymphomas and one for myeloma (targeting BCMA) have been approved by the FDA as therapy. The key challenges of CAR therapy include managing adverse events like life threatening cytokine release storm (CRS) and neurotoxicity (86). CRS involves the release of effector cytokines like IL-6, IFNγ and TNFα and can be accompanied by fever, endothelial activation and vascular instability. Neurotoxicity can range from mild headache to more severe delirium, cerebral oedema or intracranial haemmorhage. Inclusion of safety switches can potentially prevent organ damage and fatality and have become an essential component of current CAR designs (78).

Engineering CAR – T Cells to Target the HIV Reservoir

CAR T cells for HIV have been trialled since the 90s. Some have demonstrated long term persistence in peripheral blood (87–89) and have been found to traffic to areas of the HIV reservoir including the central nervous system and peripheral lymphoid tissue (90). As such, CAR T cells have the potential to revolutionise immunotherapy for HIV, when appropriate design and safety strategies are incorporated.

First Generation

The first-generation anti-HIV CAR-T cells linked singular CD3ζ intracellular signalling domains to antigen recognition domains directed against HIV Env using either CD4 or scFvs derived from anti-HIV Env bNAbs ( ). These CAR-T cells were very specific in recognizing and lysing cells expressing HIV Env in vitro ( ). Using a CD8 cell line (WH3) expressing CD4-CD3ζ CARs, Romeo and Seed demonstrated that after binding to gp120 expressing HeLa cells, CD4-CD3ζ CAR-T cells exhibited extremely high cytolytic activities by chromium-release assay (91). These data were replicated in human PBMC derived CD8 T cells expressing CD4 or scFv derived from anti-HIV mAb 98.6 -CD3ζ based CARs (92). After binding to HIV Env, these CAR-T cells exhibited extremely high cytolytic activities by JAM assay, a cell lysis assay which measures the DNA retained by living cells rather than the cellular components lost by dying cells, against the CEM cell line infected with the HIV-1 IIIB strain and HEK293 expressing HIV env. Furthermore, using Jurkat cells expressing CD4 or scFv derived from anti-HIV mAb 98.6 -CD3ζ based CARs, Roberts et al. demonstrated that HEK293 env target cells stimulated Jurkat CAR-T cells to secrete IL-2 at high levels (92). Subsequently, Yang et al. confirmed that primary CD8 T cells expressing CD4 ligand or scFv derived from anti-HIV mAb 98.6 -CD3ζ based CARs lysed HIV-1 IIIB infected T1 and H9-B14 cells and inhibited HIV-1 replication in vitro (93). The kinetics of lysis and efficiency of inhibition were comparable to that of naturally occurring HIV-1-specific CTL clones isolated from infected individuals (93). Such preclinical studies provided clear evidence that first generation CD4 or scFv derived from anti-HIV mAb 98.6 -CD3ζ based CAR T cells exhibited significant anti-HIV activity in vitro.

Table 2

Preclinical and clinical testing of first-generation anti-HIV CAR-T cells.

Design of CAR	Outcome
A. Preclinical studies
- CD8 cell line (WH3) expressing CD4 binding site-ζCAR (91).	- CD8 exhibited extremely high cytolytic activities against gp120 expressing HeLa cells by chromium-release assay
- Both Jurkat cells and primary CD8 T cells expressed CD4 binding site or scFv derived from anti-HIV mAb 98.6 -CD3ζ (92).	- CD8 exhibited extremely high cytolytic activities toward CEM and HEK293 cells expressing HIV envby JAM assay.- HEK293 expressing HIV env activated the CAR expressing Jurkat cells to secrete IL-2 at high levels.
- Primary CD8 T cells expressing CD4 ligand or scFv derived from anti-HIV mAb 98.6 -CD3ζ (93).	- Exhibited lysis of HIV-1 IIIB infected T1 and H9-B14 cells by chromium-release assay
B. Clinical studies
- Phase II randomized trial: Single-dose administration of autologous CD4 and CD8 CAR-T cells both expressing CD4-CD3ζ with or without IL-2 to HIV- infected patients (n=24) with a detectable level of virus (1000 copies/mL) (88).	- CAR expression detected in 1% - 3% of circulating T cells at 8 weeks and 0.1% at 1 year- Survival of CAR was not enhanced by IL-2- CAR DNA was observed in biopsies of bulk rectal tissue and lamina propria in 2 of 3 patients at 1 year- No significant reduction in HIV RNA or DNA
- Single and multiple infusions of autologous CD4-CD3ζ CD8 CAR-T cells with or without CD4-CD3ζ CD4 CAR-T cells between identical twins (n=33) serodifferent for HIV infection (87).	- Greater persistence for at least one year compared to 8 weeks following multiple infusions of CD8 CAR-T cells co-administered with CD4 CAR-T cells.- CAR T cells detected in lymphoid tissue biopsies at 1 year- Multiple infusions were well tolerated without substantive immunologic or virologic changes- Reduction in mean HIV RNA levels observed in patients who received repeated infusions of CD8 CAR T cells
- Phase II randomized trial: Three infusions of autologous CD4-CD3ζ CD4 and CD8 CAR-T cells compared to unmodified T cells in HIV-infected individuals (n=40) on ART with low plasma viral loads (<50 copies/mL) (89).	- Decline from baseline in HIV after CAR T cell treatment, but no meaningful difference in HIV burden was observed between treatment and placebo groups- Increase of CD4 T cell count following therapy

First generation CD4 ligand-based CAR-T cells also demonstrated stable engraftment and long-term safety in the clinical setting ( ). However, despite these observations and the previously demonstrated anti-HIV activity in vitro, the CD4-CD3ζ CAR-T cells were not capable of reducing viral burden permanently in most clinical studies (87, 88). Specifically, Mitsuyasu et al. noted CAR expression in 1% - 3% of circulating T cells at 8 weeks and 0.1% at 1 year following administration of autologous CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing CD4-CD3ζ CARs with or without IL-2 to HIV-infected patients (n=24) with a detectable level of virus (1000 copies/mL). However, no significant reduction in HIV RNA or DNA was observed (88). Moreover, administration of exogenous IL-2 with CAR T cells was not shown to enhance survival. Another study showed greater persistence of CD8 T cells expressing CD4-CD3ζ CARs at 1 year after multiple infusions when co-administered with CD4 T cells expressing CD4-CD3ζ CARs compared to CD8 CAR-T cells infused without CD4 CAR-T cells in identical twins (n=33) sero-different for HIV infection (87). Furthermore, a reduction in mean HIV RNA levels was observed in patients who received repeated infusions of CD8 CAR T cells (87). Subsequently, it has been demonstrated that infusion of CD4-CD3ζ expressing CD4 and CD8 T cells led to a decline from baseline in HIV after CAR T cell treatment, but no meaningful difference in HIV burden was observed between treatment and placebo groups (89). Notably, both groups experienced a treatment-related increase in CD4 T-cell counts (89).

The failure of these clinical trials to generate robust cell lysis of their targets may be attributed to several factors: (1) low transduction efficiency and/or dose of CD4-CD3ζ CAR-T cells leading to lower efficacy (94); (2) T cell exhaustion during ex vivo CD4-CD3ζ CAR-T cell expansion by excessive IL-2 stimulation (95); (3) CAR design leading to low expansion rate and effector functions (96); (4) Initial ART administration prior to CD4-CD3ζ CAR T cell infusion may block the efficacy of CAR-T cells by reducing HIV Env antigen required for optimal expansion of a CD4-CD3ζ CAR-T cells in vivo and the production of a robust anti-HIV response (97); (5) CD4-CD3ζ CAR T cells may induce selective pressure on HIV Env to select for escape mutants (98); however, (6) the most common explanation for the failure of the CD4-CD3ζ CAR T cell clinical trials is the inclusion of CD4 as the antigen recognition domain, rendering the CD8 T cells expressing CD4 susceptible to HIV infection (97). Overall, the application of first-generation anti-HIV CAR T cell therapy in HIV patients has demonstrated a lack of adverse effects, and the generation of compartmental immunity to HIV (87–89). However, the lack of efficacy of these CAR T cells in vivo despite previously demonstrated significant anti-HIV activity in vitro led to the development of second and third generation CARs incorporating the signals require for full T-cell activation within the CAR structure to enhance their function.

Second Generation

Based on the success of second generation anti-CD19 CAR-T cells for hematologic malignancies, various laboratories have developed second generation anti-HIV CAR T cells and analysed them in preclinical studies ( ). Landmark studies have been summarised in . Second-generation CD8 CAR T cells incorporating the CD4 ligand or scFv derived from anti-HIV bnAbs as antigen recognition domains co-stimulated by 41BB were directly compared with first generation CARs and shown to be at least 50-fold more potent at suppressing HIV replication in vitro (94). Furthermore, second generation CARs demonstrated superior antigen dependent expansion, CD4 T cell protection via reduced cell loss in vivo when compared to HIV-specific CARs without co-stimulatory molecules (101). In the same study, a direct comparison of 41BB and CD28 co-stimulatory domains showed that 41BB costimulatory domains promote antigen independent T cell persistence in vivo (101) and that they are superior to the CD28 domain in reducing viral rebound following cessation of ART treatment. This is in accordance with other 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain containing CARs showing long term persistence (96). Primary CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing scFv derived from anti-HIV bnAbs including PGT128, PGT145, VRC07-523, or 10E8 in second generation CARs with 41BB co-stimulatory domains were developed and compared (99). All CARs incorporating scFv from each bnAb were shown to be efficacious as anti-HIV designs using HIV infected cell lines and Env transfected cells (99). However, PGT145- and VRC07-523-CARs showed the most consistent potency in cytotoxic activity (99). Perhaps most importantly, this study demonstrated the success of homology-directed recombination of CAR transgene into the CCR5 (HIV co-receptor) locus to suppress entry of HIV into these cells (99). By showing the feasibility of CAR integration to disrupt CCR5 in T cells, Hale et al. demonstrated an important consideration when developing a CAR T cell immunotherapy for HIV. The efficacy of CAR expressing CD4 T cells in the context of HIV has also been demonstrated in other studies. Focussing on HIV-resistant CD4 CAR-T cells modified by introduction of a single Asp mutation (D97N) and expressing co-stimulatory domains derived from 41BB, CD28, CD27, OX40 or ICOS, Maldini et al. showed direct elimination of env expressing cell lines in vitro. They also demonstrated improved proliferation and persistence of CD4 ligand based CAR expressing CD8 T cells, especially when co-injected with CD4 ligand based CAR expressing CD4 T cells in vivo (101). Furthermore, HIV-resistant CAR expressing CD4 T cells containing costimulatory domains from the CD28 receptor family exhibited the greatest production of effector cytokines in vitro. whilst 41BB co-stimulated CAR expressing CD4 T cells showed superior expansion and reduced HIV pathogenesis in vivo using a humanized mouse model of HIV infection (100).

Table 3

Recent preclinical testing of second-generation anti -HIV CAR T cells.

Design	Outcome
- Primary CD8 T cells expressing CD4 or scFv derived from anti-HIV bnAbs (VRC01, 3BNC60, PG9, PGT128, PGDM1400) based second generation CARs with 41BB or CD28 co-stimulatory domains (94).	- Had 50-fold increase in potency at suppressing HIV replication in vitro than first generation CAR T cells by chromium-release assay.- Superior in vivo expansion in response to antigen,Reduced CD4 T cell loss compared to first generation CARs.- Incorporation of 41BB costimulatory domains was superior to CD28 domains in reducing viral rebound after ART treatment and promoting T cell persistence in vivo
- Primary CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing scFv derived from anti-HIV bnAbs (PGT128, PGT145, VRC07-523, 10E8) second generation CARs with 41BB as a co-stimulatory domain (99).- AAV6 mediated homology-directed recombination of the CAR gene into the CCR5 locus (99).	- PGT145- and VRC07-523-CARs had consistent potency in killing of HIV infected cell lines and Env transfected cells- CCR5-edited CAR T cells more effectively suppressed viral replication
- Primary CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing CD4 ligand based second generation CARs and incorporating co-stimulatory domains derived from 41BB, CD28, CD27, OX40 and ICOS (100).- CAR modified CD4 T cells rendered HIV-resistant by introduction of a single Asp mutation (D97N) of CXCR4 (100).	- CAR T cells with CD28 costimulatory domains exhibited the greatest production of IL-2, TNF, IFNγ, (MIP)-1b and GMCSF when co-cultured with env expressing cell lines in vitro. - CAR T cells with 4-1BB-costimulatory domains directly eliminated env expressing cell lines in vitro and exhibited profound expansion.- CD4 CAR T Cells had improved proliferation and persistence of CD8 CAR T cells in vivo.

These data demonstrate that co-stimulatory domains along with helper functions supplied from CAR expressing CD4 T cells differentially enhance HIV-specific CAR expressing CD8 T cell function in vivo. Future studies may benefit from adopting strategies to develop HIV-resistant CAR expressing CD4 T cells and preferentially incorporating 41BB co-stimulatory domains.

Third and Fourth Generation

Third-generation HIV-specific CARs ( ) have not been extensively studied in HIV. A single study combining multiple intracellular signalling domains from 41BB, CD28 and CD3ζ linked to the scFv of anti-HIV bnAb VRC01 displayed increased potency in lysing env expressing cell lines in vitro compared to HIV recognition via CD4-based third generation CAR (102). Unfortunately, this study failed to directly compare the potency of their third generation CAR to an appropriately designed second generation CAR counterpart. However, an important finding of the study was that the VRC01-based third generation CAR-T cell effectively eliminated LRA-reactivated HIV-1-infected CD4 T cells isolated from infected individuals receiving ART, thus validating the development of CAR-T cell immunotherapies against latent HIV (102). The fourth generation of CAR-T cells are known as T cells redirected for universal cytokine-mediated killing (TRUCKs) and have yet to be employed in the context of HIV infection ( ). TRUCKs can utilise the additional secretion of IL-12 or other inflammatory mediators to attract innate immune cells and eliminate antigen negative cancer cells. CAR designs are constantly evolving with novel features being added to provide multiple functions, especially to overcome the challenges of the tissue microenvironment and future anti-HIV CARs will no doubt incorporate such features.

Advances in Developing CAR-T Cell Therapy for HIV Cure

Successful immunotherapies for chronic viral infections, such as HIV, would need to overcome challenges of immune escape, off-target effects, and navigate immunoregulatory factors in the tissue microenvironment for a sustained and effective response. The versatile and modular nature of CARs and advances in molecular and synthetic biology thus allows for the development of a myriad of designs for these purposes to increase the efficacy and precision of anti-HIV cell therapies. Prompted by novel innovations in cancer immunotherapy, various research groups have begun designing and testing CARs to overcome shared challenges between cancer and chronic viral infections as well as HIV specific hurdles including CAR – T cell expansion and persistence, and their susceptibility to HIV infection.

Overcoming Immune Escape

Antigen escape, including antigen loss or downregulation, is a major limitation of CARs designed with single antigen recognition domains, particularly for scFv-based CARs. Immune escape was demonstrated in recent clinical trials where a decrease in plasma viremia followed by viral rebound using monotherapy of bNAb VRC01 (103) was observed. In contrast, treatment with combinations of two or more bNAbs significantly reduced the viral reservoir and demonstrated long-term viral suppression (104). Therefore, single bnAb scFv-based CARs may be insufficient for long term HIV suppression due to the emergence of escape mutants. Thus, combination of multiple antigen recognition domain by CARs, using duo or Tandem designs may provide long-term suppression and are currently under investigation. Duo CARs expressing complimentary antigen recognition domains directed against different antigens via transfection as a single bicistronic vector ( ) have been used successfully in cancer to overcome immune escape (106). Tandem CAR-T cells consists of a CAR where distinct antigen recognition domains are fused to generate smaller transgenes compared to dual CARs whilst retaining capacity to target multiple antigens can prevent immune escape ( ) (107). More recently, Hajduczki et al. further improved a bispecific CAR design based on the CRD of human mannose-binding lectin (MBL) recognizing the highly conserved oligomannose patch on gp120 and CD4 ligand by addition of a third antigen recognition domain against a distinctly conserved region on Env. The group employed a polypeptide sequence derived from the N-terminus of the HIV coreceptor CCR5 to develop the trispecific CAR to demonstrate enhanced in vitro anti-HIV potency compared to the bispecific CAR (108). Binding of either CAR in dual or tandem systems to its associated antigen is sufficient to stimulate full T cell activation. Moreover, cancer studies have demonstrated that enhanced T-cell function is observed when both targets are present (106). A preliminary study of anti-HIV dual CARs designed with CD4 antigen recognition domains linked to bnAb 17b scFvs or carbohydrate recognition domains of a human C-type lectin (109) transduced into CD8 T cells showed enhanced potency against genetically diverse strains of HIV when compared to single CD4 antigen recognition domain-based CARs in vitro. Furthermore, Liu et al. demonstrated that bispecific CAR function is influenced by the length between various antigen-binding domains to inform future studies incorporating dual antigen recognition domain designs (110). Subsequent studies have included CD4-based duo CARs linked to various bnAb scFvs or the carbohydrate recognition domain of a human C-type lectin receptor and have all shown long -term suppression of HIV in vitro (109, 111). Most recently, a study describes duo CARs targeting two or three antigens simultaneously via HIV neutralising antibody fragments in transduced primary human T cells in vitro (111). Multi-specific CAR - T cells were able to eliminate PBMCs infected with single bnAb-resistant HIV strains and displayed long-term control of HIV infection in vivo and the prevention of CD4 T cell loss (111). Further, the group demonstrated long-term control of HIV infection in vivo and prevented the loss of CD4+ T cells during HIV infection using a humanized NSG mouse model (111). Using a bicistronic lentiviral vector to allow for simultaneous expression of both CARs, the group targeted dual antigens on HIV env, first the mD1.22 domain to its CD4 binding site, and subsequently the m36.4 domain to its conformationally exposed binding site (111). Collectively, these data demonstrate that dual-targeting antigen recognition domains are important in overcoming immune escape in the context of an anti-HIV immunotherapy.

Figure 2

Engineering CAR-T cells for improved function. (A) DuoCARs target independent antigens by CAR co-expression. (B) TanCARs adopt a tandem antigen recognition domain to target multiple antigens. (C) CD3ζ and costimulatory domains are split between independent antigen recognition domains in SplitCARs for T cell activation upon recognition of both antigens. (D) Upon recognition of antigen, synNotch receptors undergo transmembrane cleavage and release of their intracellular transcriptional domain which in turn induces the transcription of a secondary CAR for recognition of a second antigen and T cell activation. (E) convertibleCAR, a universal system where the antigen-targeting domain and the T cell signalling unit are split. Effector cells express CARs incorporating NKG2D, the natural receptor of the MIC/ULBP ligand family. MicAbody, comprised of the MICA ligand bound to the scFv of an antibody of interest, is administered separately. (F) DARPin linked to a Cage protein bind to surface antigens. Upon binding of a secondary DARPin linked to a key protein to its antigen, the latch is released exposing Bim to bind to a Bcl-2 CAR. CAR, chimeric antigen receptor; NKG2D, MICA receptor; MICA, NKG2D ligand; DARPin, designer ankyrin repeat proteins. Created with BioRender. Adapted from Guedan et al. (105).

Overcoming Off-Target Toxicitites

HIV specific CAR-T cells have demonstrated long-term safety in the clinical setting (87–89). However, the primary concern with CD4-ligand based anti-HIV CAR-T cell therapies is the capacity for CD4-MHC II interactions resulting in non-specific T cell activation. Fortunately, cytolysis of MHC II-expressing cells has not been demonstrated in CD4-based anti-HIV CAR-T cell studies (91, 110). Development of anti-HIV bnAb-based CAR T cell therapies specifically targeting the HIV envelope glycoproteins is safer than targeting the CD4 binding partners. It is well established that the non-covalent interaction of the gp120 and gp41 envelope glycoproteins of HIV is disrupted by soluble CD4 binding, resulting in irreversible gp120 release (112). Since CAR-T cell recognition of its specific antigen is an MHC I independent process, another important consideration is the recognition of cell-free or virion-associated HIV env by HIV specific CAR-T cells leading to activation and potentially lethal cytokine release. Although this area has not been extensively explored in HIV CAR-T cell therapies, dual targeting of HIV env with cell surface markers may provide a novel strategy to mitigate off-target cytotoxicity resulting from non-specific T cell responses to cell-free or virion-associated HIV env.

However, targeting two antigens may lead to increased risk for off-target toxicity following CAR-T cell treatment. Strategies to mitigate off-target cytotoxicity include synNotch, LOCKR and convertible systems where CARs are activated upon recognition of a specific combination of antigens. The primary signal can be provided following stimulation of the CAR linked to the CD3ζ chain whilst co-stimulation is split and provided by another CAR to limit non-specific activation ( ) (113, 114). A more recent strategy employs a two-step process where activation of the first receptor known as the synthetic Notch (synNotch) induces the expression of a secondary antigen specific receptor ( ) (115). This AND-gate recognition system ensures T cell activation only occurs when both antigens are expressed on target cells thus enabling precision killing and sparing cells expressing either of the single antigens in isolation. Other AND-gating strategies involve dimerising protein switches, which can serve as lock and keys that are activated only upon the two independent antigens (lock-bound and key-bound) present together. An interesting example of this is described in Lajoie et al. (116) ( ).

Another strategy to reduce toxicity is by allowing for controlled expression of CAR T cells. For example, CARs are directed against an inert molecule which is conjugated to an antigen binding antibody. By infusing various antibodies, the universal CAR can be redirected against various antigens and CAR activity can be controlled by regulating the times and amount of antibody infusions. Most recently Herzig et al. engineered a novel version of universal CAR known as convertibleCAR ( ) where they combine the cytotoxic T cell with many antibodies (117). This is crucial for controlling HIV as different variants exist and there would be no long-term success with a CAR-T cell carrying a single antibody to fight HIV. In this scenario, Herzig et al. used a ligand from the MIC/ULBP family, expressed on stressed cells, and its receptor NKG2D, expressed on CTL and NK cells. They engineered the convertibleCAR cell T cell to express NKG2D thus converting them into a potent killer, but only when bound to its partner, a protein called MIC-A with A being any antibody of interest. Consequently, neither the CAR-T cells nor the MicAbody can kill target cells until they have bound to each other and the MicAbody has specifically engaged its epitope on an HIV-infected cell to create an immunologic synapse. This strategy compensated for the cleavage of soluble ligands (MICA and ULBP) for the natural NKG2D receptor from the surface of infected cells, thereby compromising the ability of CTL and NK cells to kill infected cells (118).

The possibility of multiplexing a single convertibleCAR cell with several MicAbodies makes this platform quite promising for tackling multiple diseases or pathogen variants and for avoiding the universal problem of drug resistance. Another advantage of this type of CAR T cells is the exclusive ligand-receptor interaction where CAR can be introduced into patients in an inert state. Only after the administration of the specific MicAbody or MicAbody mix will the CAR-T get activated. This increases safety and controls dependent on both the dose and timing of administered HIV-specific MicAbody. By contrast, classical CAR T cells are ‘‘on’’ all the time. Using a platform that is inert unless both parts are present can potentially enhance safety.

Tissue Microenvironment

A major shared challenge to target cell clearance in chronic HIV infection and cancer is the need for T cell localisation and exertion of effector functions within the immunosuppressive tissue microenvironment. Anti-HIV CAR T cells that over-express the chemokine receptor CXCR5, to promote trafficking into lymphoid tissues have been developed (119). This was based on the identification of follicular CD8 T cells expressing CXCR5 and their control of HIV replication within lymphoid tissue (120), in addition to a proof-of-concept study demonstrating CXCR5 overexpression in CD8 T cells led to localisation within the germinal centres of lymphoid tissue in macaques (121). These CD4-based CXCR5 expressing CAR T cells demonstrated suppression of SIV infection in vitro and trafficking in response to CXCL13 in migration assays using transwells and lymph node organoid cultures (122). Most recently, Barber-Anxthelm et al. employed hematopoietic stem cells modified with CD4 ligand based CARs to demonstrate trafficking and multilineage engraftment at lymphoid germinal centres, gut associated lymphoid tissue and the central nervous system (123). Furthermore, CAR expressing cells persisted for nearly two years at these sites of tissue-associated viral reservoirs (123). Since lymph nodes are important sites of HIV reservoirs, these data highlight important innovations that can be included in the development of a dual-targeting HIV-specific CAR-T cell with increased capacities to traffic to anatomical sites that contain large fractions of the latent HIV reservoir. Both the solid tumour microenvironment and lymph nodes can be characterised by the secretion of various cytokines and growth factors by stromal and immune cells to remodel the extracellular matrix of these tissues and contribute to the suppression of T cell responses. To overcome such barriers, CAR T cells have been engineered to secrete extracellular matrix modifying enzymes such as heparinase to degrade heparin sulphate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix (124). These CAR-T cells demonstrated an improved capacity to infiltrate xenograft tumours in mice and prolonged survival compared with CAR T cells lacking heparinase expression (124). Such strategies could be included in future HIV CAR designs.

After overcoming the physical barriers and localising to the tumour microenvironment, upregulation of inhibitory ligands such as PDL-1 that bind to inhibitory receptor PD1 to suppress effector T cell responses have been observed (125). Several approaches to overcome the effect of PD-1 using CAR T cells have been reported and are succinctly described in Yoon et al. (126). Engineered CAR-T cells co-transduced with truncated PD-1 receptors lacking intracellular signalling functions which still bind PDL-1 but are unable to propagate inhibitory signals have been developed and demonstrated resistance to T cell exhaustion mediated by PDL-1 and prolonged survival in mice bearing xenograft tumours, compared with CAR T cells lacking these truncated PD-1 receptors (127). More recently, Jiang et al. demonstrated that expression of PD-1 dominant negative receptor (DNR) in a 3BNC117 bnAb scFv based CAR T cell resulted in superior lytic and functional responses in vitro and in vivo when compared to 3BNC117 bnAb scFv CAR expression alone (128). PD-1 receptor expression has also been disrupted completely via CRISPR/Cas9 resulting in augmentation of CAR T cell mediated killing of tumor cells in vitro and enhanced clearance of PDL-1 expressing tumor xenografts in vivo (129). The complexity of the tissue microenvironment continues to drive novel CAR design as previously outlined by our group (130).

Cytokine Release Syndrome

The risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is most acute during the first infusion when the cancer tumour burden is at its peak (131). However, the number of HIV-infected target cells in patients on ART is dramatically less than target cell numbers in individuals with leukaemia and HIV reactivation of latently infected cells is characterised by low surface antigen density (132). Tumour specific antigens provoke a potent immune response relative to reactivated latently infected resting memory T cells. For this reason, CRS has not been extensively studied in the context of HIV specific CAR – T cells in vivo. However, should life threatening CRS ensue, it would be beneficial to incorporate safety switches to “turn off” the CAR T cells. The popular switches currently being trialled are based on inducible caspase-9 (133) and truncated epidermal growth factor receptor (tEGFR) (elimination induced by the infusion of clinically approved antibody Cetuximab) (134).

Expansion and Persistence

The low number of HIV-infected target cells comprising the latent HIV reservoir and their low antigen density upon reactivation leads to challenges surrounding the expansion and persistence of HIV specific CAR – T cells. One strategy involving orthogonal IL-2 cytokine-receptor pairs may overcome poor engineered T cell expansion and persistence upon patient infusion (135). It is known that transcription factor STAT5 is phosphorylated upon IL-2 engagement of its receptor (136). After translocation to the nucleus STAT5 promotes T cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. By engineering orthogonal IL-2 cytokine-receptors pairs, Sockolosky et al. demonstrated that orthogonal IL-2 potently activated STAT5 on orthogonal IL-2 receptor transduced primary mouse CAR – T cells when compared to wild-type resulting in specific expansion of primary mouse CAR – T cells with negligible toxicity whilst retaining anti-tumour effector functions (135). As mentioned previously, 41BB co-stimulated CARs induce a delayed T cell effector response and increased persistence whilst CD28 co-stimulated CARs lead to quicker T cell activation, proliferation, cytolysis. Dual-CARs incorporating distinct CD28 and 4-1BB costimulatory domains can combine both antigen-driven expansion and long-term persistence with potent effector functions (101). Using LRAs to stimulate robust reactivation of latent reservoirs, may help in antigen dependent expansion and persistence of HIV-specific CAR T cells during clinical translation of HIV specific T cell therapies. Thus, a combinatorial approach of LRA and CAR T cells can be expected to aid in increased in vivo expansion and persistence.

Susceptibility to HIV Infection

CD4 ligand-based HIV specific CARs have illustrated significant barriers to HIV cure due to their susceptibility to HIV infection (137). To overcome this limitation, one strategy describes co-expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequences targeting CCR5 and HIV LTR to silence target genes (138). It was shown that expressing CCR5 and HIV LTR shRNA decreased the risk of CAR T cell infection leading to overall increased levels and persistence whilst maintaining HIV specific effector functions in vitro (138). Targeted CAR integration at the CCR5 locus in primary human T cells has been also demonstrated by RNA-based nuclease expression coupled with adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of a CCR5-targeting donor template and was shown to effectively supress viral replication in primary HIV infected human T cells (99). Thus, targeted integration of the CAR into the CCR5 locus is an important milestone in developing robust T cell therapies against HIV. More recently, Anthony-Gonda et al. showed infection resistance when the C46 viral fusion inhibitor peptide was co-expressed in anti- HIV CAR T cells without interfering with their effector function (111). Various studies have shown that anti-HIV bnAbs may be used as an alternative to CD4 antigen recognition domains in HIV specific CARs to stimulate specific T cell activation and killing of HIV infected cells without HIV infection of CAR T cells (99, 102, 111). These studies demonstrate the feasibility of utilising bnAb scFv in CAR constructs as immunotherapies for HIV infection.

Conclusions

Immunotherapy for the treatment of infection and malignancy has revolutionised therapeutic options. While one major aspect of HIV research focusses on developing alternative or complementary methods to LRAs to reactivate HIV, the other exciting aspect focusses on harnessing the immune system more effectively to eliminate HIV reactivated cells. However, none of the attempts at reducing latently infected cells have yet succeeded as CD8 T cells are dysfunctional in chronic HIV infection and LRAs have been suboptimal so far. Many LRAs are toxic, can reactivate HIV but fail to kill the target CD4 T cells, and some inhibit endogenous CD8 T cell function. Currently, there is no licensed treatment for the reduction of the latent HIV reservoir and novel approaches are required to tackle latency. Individual strategies are unikely to eliminate the entire HIV reservoir. However, reactivation via multiple approaches such as LRAs or IFN combined with immunotherapy using CD8 CAR T cells to kill reactivated cells need to be tested further. CAR T cells are one such promising immunotherapeutic approach for killing HIV infected cells. An important feature of CD8 CAR T cell immunotherapy is that HIV infected cells that evade CD8 T recognition via mutations in MHC-I restricted epitopes or downregulation of MHC-I will be targeted by CAR T cells which recognise surface antigens independent of MHC-I presentation. IFN has also many advantages over classical LRAs: it does not impair the CD8 antiviral function, prevents HIV spread, upregulate MHC-I and is not toxic. In addition to the inclusion of scFvs from bnAbs to induce CAR T cells cytotoxic anti-HIV effects, one could also consider arming the CAR T cells to secrete cytokines that activate latently infected cells and to increase their ability to migrate to key sites of HIV infection such as lymph nodes or mucosal lymphoid tissue or even to immune privileged sites such as the brain via the expression of specific homing markers. First generation CAR-T cells were not capable of reducing viral burden permanently in most clinical studies while third and fourth generation led to activation-induced cell death (AICD). However, second generation CAR T cells are currently the most promising candidates as they show superior expansion and reduced HIV infected cells in many in vitro and humanised mouse studies. As CAR designs are constantly evolving, their modifications may provide more effective cell therapies to cure HIV infected patients in the future.

Author Contributions

JY primarily wrote the review under the guidance of KG, AC and NN. SP and KM provided intellectual input. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research paid for open access publication. JY was supported by a grant from the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH2) granted to AC, KM, NN and KG. SP was supported by the Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) to Find a Cure funded by the US National Institutes of Health (1UM1AI164560-01) and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1149990).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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