Humoral and Innate Antiviral Immunity as Tools to Clear Persistent HIV Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 uses the CD4 molecule as its principal receptor to infect T cells. HIV-1 integrates its viral genome into the host cell, leading to persistent infection wherein HIV-1 can remain transcriptionally silent in latently infected CD4(+) T cells. On reactivation of replication-competent provirus, HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) are expressed and accumulate on the cell surface, allowing infected cells to be detected and targeted by endogenous immune responses or immune interventions. HIV-1 Env-specific antibodies have the potential to bind HIV-1 cell surface Env and promote elimination of infected CD4+ T cells by recruiting cytotoxic effector cells, such as natural killer cells, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells. Harnessing humoral and innate cellular responses has become one focus of research to develop innovative strategies to recruit and redirect cytotoxic effector cells to eliminate the HIV-1 latently infected CD4(+) T-cell reservoir.