Proposition of text for the « advertising » of JEM study
13.12.2012
Final version
English: Final Version
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN HIV RESEARCH: STUDY PUBLISHED TODAY ONLINE IN THE
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE IDENTIFIES POPULATION OF CELLS SERVING AS THE
MAJOR RESERVOIR FOR HIV
Lausanne, Switzerland, 17th December 2012.--- A study published today online in The
Journal of Experimental Medicine has identified the population of CD4 T cells serving as
the major reservoir for HIV infected cells and as the primary cell site for HIV replication
and production in infected patients. The study was led by Prof. Giuseppe Pantaleo and Dr.
Matthieu Perreau at the Division of Immunology and Allergy and at the Swiss Vaccine
Research Institute, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
CD4 T cells are known to be the primary target of HIV. The CD4 T cells serving as reservoir for
HIV infection and as primary site for HIV replication and production are not present in the
blood and are exclusively found in the lymphoid tissues in a region called germinal centers.
These CD4 T cells are called ‘T follicular helper’ (Tfh) cells: they represent about 2% of the
total CD4 T cells residing in the lymphoid tissues and are in close contact with B cells and
help B cells to mature and produce antibodies.
‘This is a major discovery for the HIV field; we have finally identified the cell population
predominantly responsible for supporting active HIV replication and production’ says Prof.
Pantaleo. ‘We have also provided evidence that the Tfh cells are likely to be responsible for
residual virus replication in patients effectively treated with antiretroviral therapy’
‘HIV-infected Tfh cells hide themselves within the germinal centers where they are difficult
to be reached by HIV-specific cytotoxic CD8 T cells, which generally are poorly present in
germinal centers’ says Dr. Perreau. ‘Therefore, germinal centers represent a sanctuary for
HIV replication in Tfh cells.’
‘The identification of the major HIV CD4 T cell reservoir will be instrumental in developing
therapeutic strategies to selectively target HIV infected Tfh cells’ says Prof. Pantaleo. ‘The
elimination of HIV infected Tfh cells will represent a critical therapeutic strategy to achieve
HIV functional cure, i.e. control of HIV replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy,
and potentially HIV eradication.’
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Ends-
EDITOR’S NOTES
T cells: Small lymphocytes that play a major role in cellular immunity. T cells mature in the
thymus and have the ability to recognize specific antigens through the receptors express at
their cell surface. They identify and eliminate incoming microbes such as bacteria and
viruses.
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Proposition of text for the « advertising » of JEM study
13.12.2012
Final version
CD4 T cells: are a sub-group of small lymphocytes. CD4 T cells in the blood represent 50-60% of
human T cells. CD4 molecule serves as the primary receptor for HIV. HIV causes depletion of
CD4 T cells. The depletion of CD4 T cells is associated with increased susceptibility to
infection with other infectious agents in the advanced stages of HIV disease.
CD8 T cells: CD8 T cells recognize viral antigens on the surface of HIV-infected cells and are
capable of killing virus infected cells.
Reservoir: cell type or anatomical site, where a replication-competent form of HIV can
accumulate and persist stably.
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For further information please contact:
Dr. Sophie Sierro, CHUV
Tél. + 41 21314 79 76
Mail : sophie.sierro@chuv.ch
Danièle Castle, Genevensis Commuications
Tél. + 41 79 202 6667
Mail : info@genevensis.com
About Lausanne University Hospital
The Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) is one of the five Swiss University Hospitals.
Through its collaboration with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne, the
CHUV plays a leading rôle in Europe in medical care, research and education.
About the Swiss Vaccine Research Institute (SVRI)
The SVRI is a partnership of 5 research institutes in Switzerland. The SVRI was created in 2007 in
Lausanne and is supported by the Swiss Secretariat of Education and Research. Its primary objective
is to develop effective preventive vaccine strategies and therapeutic vaccine interventions for
infectious diseases and for cancer. SVRI plays an instrumental role in linking basic research to
translational research. SVRI’s research program targets primarily HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, as
well as the emerging influenza pandemic threat. SVRI benefits also from ongoing efforts in the area
of cancer vaccine research. The SVRI hosting house is the Lausanne University Hospital (Lausanne,
Switzerland).
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