The aim of the DYNAMO study is to describe the dynamics in latent HIV infected immune cells over time and thereby obtain more knowledge about the natural activity of the cells and the quantity of infected cells in the body. This knowledge is important, because it constitutes a valuable frame of reference in research projects, where the goal is to influence the immune cells. It is crucial to have well-documented knowledge about the normal activity of latent infected cells to prove any deviations.

Among well-treated HIV patients the viral load is so low that it cannot be measured in the blood. Still, a reservoir is hidden in the immune cells of the body, and it will produce more virus if the patient stops his treatment. This reservoir is the primary challenge to overcome in the research of finding a cure of HIV. Therefore HIV research is centered on the development of a method that can eradicate these cells and thereby the HIV reversoir.

At Q-Research we work with a strategy called the ‘Kick and Kill-strategy’. The aim is to reactivate the hidden HIV and make it possible for the immune system to recognize and eradicate the infected cells. In the projects called CLEAR and REDUC the reactivation is made by cancer medicaments, which have shown to be very effective. After treating infected HIV patients with these drugs, analysis are made to estimate the effect on the HIV activity in the cells and the total load of infected cells.
We expect the results to contribute with important immunological knowledge that can support results from similar research projects. It will provide a more accurate description of the activity in the infected immune cells.

Methods:

26 well-treated HIV patients participated in the DYNAMO study. Each patient has been blood tested every month through a period of 6 month. Half of the patients had extra blood tests taken after having received a vaccine against pneumonia. This was done to estimate the effect of an activated immune system on the amount of infected immune cells and their HIV activity.

The first blood tests were made in the ending of 2013, the last were made in the summer 2014. At every visit the patients delivered nine small glasses with blood. This gives us a total of 1.521 blood tests that we are currently analyzing.

The large number of blood tests gives us a significant reference material for future research projects. Further more it gives us the opportunity to investigate differences in the activity of the different subtypes of immune cells that get infected by HIV. Differences in activity and gender, ethnicity, tissue type and HIV treatment are being investigated.

Results: We expect the results to be presented in summer of 2015.