Differential susceptibility of cells infected with defective and intact HIV proviruses to killing by obatoclax and other small molecules.

OBJECTIVES: Some drugs that augment cell-intrinsic defenses or modulate cell death/survival pathways have been reported to selectively kill cells infected with HIV or SIV, but comparative studies are lacking. We hypothesized that these drugs may differ in their ability to kill cells infected with intact and defective proviruses.

DESIGN: To investigate this hypothesis, drugs were tested ex vivo on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) from nine ART-suppressed individuals.

METHODS: We tested drugs currently in clinical use or human trials, including auranofin (p53 modulator), interferon alpha2A, interferon gamma, acitretin (RIG-I inducer), GS-9620/vesatolimod (TLR7 agonist), nivolumab (PD-1 blocker), obatoclax (Bcl-2 inhibitor), birinapant (IAP inhibitor), bortezomib (proteasome inhibitor), and INK128/sapanisertib (mTOR[c]1/2 inhibitor). After six days of treatment, we measured cell counts/viabilities and quantified levels of total, intact, and defective HIV DNA by droplet digital PCR (Intact Proviral DNA Assay).

RESULTS: Obatoclax reduced intact HIV DNA (median = 27-30% of DMSO) but not defective or total HIV DNA. Other drugs showed no statistically significant effects.

CONCLUSIONS: Obatoclax and other Bcl-2 inhibitors deserve further study in combination therapies aimed at reducing the intact HIV reservoir in order to achieve a functional cure and/or reduce HIV-associated immune activation.