Memory CD4+ T cell subsets show differential responses to HIV latency reversing agents [LARA]

HIV-1 persists in individuals on ART in infected central (CM), transitional (TM) and effector memory (EM) CD4+ T cells. We developed LARA (latency and reversion assay), which facilitates the examination of HIV latency reversal in CM, TM and EM subsets in a single assay. Studies with latency reversing agents (LRAs) revealed responses specific to each subset, including compounds that significantly reversed latency in all subsets but with a range of efficiency (bryostatin) to those that demonstrated subset specificity (IL-15). Significantly, LARA has allowed the demonstration that EM cells display a more activated profile compared to CM, which translated to enhanced efficiency in responsiveness to multiple LRAs and allowed the identification of mechanisms associated with the compounds that reactivate latent HIV in all subsets. Understanding the responsiveness of memory CD4+ T cells subsets to LRAs will accelerate the development of anti-latency therapy to interfering with viral persistence in vivo. RNA-Seq was performed on samples generated in LARA from ex vivo (day 0) and in vitro culture (day 14) cells sorted on memory CD4+ T cell CM, EM and TM subsets.