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.