A primer on HIV type 1-specific immune function and REMUNE.
The ability to recognize HIV antigens is lost early in HIV-1 infection. Individuals with nonprogressive HIV disease have been observed to mount strong immune responses against the virus and have become a paradigm to emulate with immune-based therapies. Highly active antiviral drug therapy (HAART) has now become the standard of care for HIV-1-infected individuals. Because HIV-specific anergy occurs early in HIV infection, HAART initiated after primary infection may not reconstitute HIV-specific immune function. We have been investigating the effects of an immune-based therapy, called REMUNE, in HIV-1-seropositive individuals. REMUNE has been observed to stimulate HIV-1-specific immune function measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity, lymphocyte proliferation, Th1 cytokine, and beta-chemokine production. Multiple Phase II studies and a Phase III clinical end-point study are ongoing in thousands of seropositive individuals in order to test the clinical utility of REMUNE. The clinical testing of REMUNE and other promising immune-based therapies may provide additional treatment modalities useful in the chronic management of HIV-1.
The Immune Response Corporation, Carlsbad, California 92008, USA.
R B
RB
Moss
W K
WK
Giermakowska
J R
JR
Savary
G
G
Theofan
A E
AE
Daigle
S P
SP
Richieri
F C
FC
Jensen
D J
DJ
Carlo
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C105086:remune