Research Toward a Cure for Perinatal HIV

Abstract

In virtually all people living with HIV-1 (PLWH), including children, HIV-1 integrates and becomes latent in CD4⁺ T cells, forming a latent HIV-1 reservoir that current antiretroviral drugs and immune surveillance mechanisms cannot target. This latent infection in CD4⁺ T cells renders HIV-1 infection lifelong and incurable. Consequently, there is intense research focused on identifying therapeutic strategies to reduce and control the latent reservoir, aiming to avert a lifetime of antiretroviral therapy for PLWH. This review discusses the global efforts for children and adolescents living with HIV-1.

Keywords: ART-Free HIV-1 remission; HIV-1 cure; Perinatal HIV-1.

Fig. 1.

General Approaches for ART-free Remission, Post-treatment Control and Cures. Each panel depicts the HIV reservoir size over time. Gray arrows indicate HIV reservoirs that are insufficiently reduced and require further intervention to achieve post-treatment control. Dotted lines represent an undefined reservoir threshold, which could enable ART-free remission, post-treatment control, or HIV cure.

Fig. 2.

The Global Distribution of Pediatric HIV Cure-Related Studies. World map showing all past and current clinical trials and observational studies on perinatal HIV-1. Study location information is sourced from the Treatment Action Group (TAG).

Fig. 3.

Change in Immune Characteristics Throughout Childhood. Cell populations and immune processes change over time from infancy through childhood to adolescence.