Leukapheresis: bulk lymphocytes for characterisation of HIV persistence

Special delivery: nanoparticles to send latency-reversing drugs to lymph nodes

Latency-reversing agents (LRAs) are used to awaken, and possibly purge, the latent HIV reservoir. Two major challenges for LRA use in people are their toxic effect and difficulty getting into lymph nodes where HIV hides. Researchers from Washington University have developed a novel targeted nanoparticle system to address these challenges. The nanoparticles act as a drug carrier to deliver LRAs to target cells. The researchers used the LRA-containing nanoparticles to reactivate latently-infected CD4+ T cells in a variety of lab models. These included CD4+ T cells from people living with HIV. This approach may pave the way to specifically target the HIV hidden reservoir.