Redirected High Affinity Gag-Specific Autologous T Cells for HIV Gene Therapy

This research study is being carried out to study a new way to possibly treat HIV. T-cells are one of the white blood cells used by the body to fight HIV. CD8 T-cells are a type of T-cell used by the body to detect and kill cells which have been infected by foreign viruses or organisms, including the HIV virus. CD8 T-cells must identify the HIV virus in order to kill it. Because HIV is constantly changing the way it looks to the CD8 T-cells, some of the HIV virus escapes detection and is not killed by the CD8 T-cells.

This research study uses a T cell receptor (TCR) protein specific for HIV (SL9 TCR) and adds it to the CD8 T-cells in the laboratory in order to help the CD8 T-cells recognize the constantly changing HIV virus and make it able to fight HIV more efficiently. TCR stands for T cell receptor. TCRs are found on the surface of T cells and allow the T cells to recognize other cells. Laboratory studies have shown that when CD8 T-cells are modified with SL9 TCRs, they kill cells that are infected with HIV better than normal CD8 T-cells can. On the basis of these laboratory results, there is the potential that SL9 TCRs may work in people infected with HIV and improve their immune system by killing HIV infected cells and thus may help control HIV infection.

Two different SL9 TCRs will be tested in this study, WT-gag-TCR and α/6-gag-TCR. Two different types of SL9 TCRs are being used in this research study because the laboratory studies suggest that the different SL9 TCRs will function differently depending on the amount of virus in your body. A goal of this clinical study is to test the effects of infusions of either SL9 TCR in the presence or absence of a viral load.

All subjects who receive WT-gag-TCR or the α/6-gag-TCR T cells will be enrolled in a Long Term Follow up study to monitor subjects. Subjects will be followed every 6 months for five years following the 1st infusion of the T cells. If the WT-gag-TCR or the α/6-gag-TCR T cells are no longer found in the blood after five years, then subjects will be contacted yearly for the next 10 years. If the WT-gag-TCR or the α/6-gag-TCR T cells are found in the blood at five years after the 1st infusion of T cells, then the subjects will continue to be seen once a year until the WT-gag-TCR or the α/6-gag-TCR T cells are no longer found in the blood for a maximum of 15 years.

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Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 years or older
* Karnofsky Performance of 80 or higher
* HLA-A2 Positive
* Chronic HIV-1 infection
* On stable HAART regimen (with no changes within 4 weeks of study entry)
* Willing to undergo a limited treatment interruption of antiretroviral medication
* CD4+ T cell count ≥450 cells/mm3
* Documented CD4 nadir of ≥200 cells/mm3
* Undetectable HIV-1 RNA
* ARMS 1 and 2 only, at least a singe documented historic viral load set point reading
* Lab Values: Hgb≥10 males; ≥9.5 females ; ANC≥1000/mm3 ; Platelets≥1000,000/mm3 ; Creatinine≤1.5 mg/dL ; AST, ALT ≤ 2.5xULN

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current or prior AIDS diagnosis
* Previous participation in any gene therapy using an integrating vector (subjects treated with Placebo will not be excluded)
* History of cancer or malignancy (allowed to have successfully treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin)
* Have history or current exam indicative of active or unstable cardiac disease or hemodynamic instability
* Have history or current exam indicative of bleeding diathesis
* Previous treatment with any HIV experimental vaccine within 6 months prior to screening
* Use of chronic corticosteroids, hydroxyurea or immunomodulating agents such as IL2, interferon alpha, interferon gamma, granulocyte colony stimulating factors within 30 days prior to study entry (inhaled steroids are not exclusionary)
* Currently breast feeding, pregnant or unwilling to use acceptable methods of birth control
* Use of aspirin, dipyridamole, warfarin or any other medication that is likely to affect platelet function or other aspects of blood coagulation during the 2 week period prior to leukapheresis
* Active drug or alcohol use/dependence
* Serious illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization within 30 days prior to study entry
* Receipt of a vaccination within 30 days prior to study entry
* Have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to human serum albumin, DMSO or Dextran 40