Biomedical subjects

Ian McGowan

Publications and source records attributed to Ian McGowan.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Microbicides: a new frontier in HIV prevention.

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV-1. Despite more than two decades of HIV-1 vaccine research, there is still no efficacious HIV-1 vaccine, and the scientific community appears skeptical about the short or long-term feasibility of developing a vaccine that has the ability to induce sterilizing immunity against HIV-1. In this setting, microbicide research has gathered momentum. Currently, 16 candidate microbicides are in clinical development and five products are being evaluated in large-scale Phase 2B/3 effectiveness studies. Initial data from these trials will be available within the next 2-3 years, and it is feasible that there could be one or more licensed microbicides by the end of the decade. The first generation of surfactant microbicides had a non-specific mechanism of action. However, subsequent candidate microbicides have been developed to target specific steps in the process of viral transmission. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of microbicide development and an update on the candidate pipeline.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

PubMed2006

Microbicides 2006 conference.

Current HIV/AIDS statistics show that women account for almost 60% of HIV infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. HIV prevention tools such as male and female condoms, abstinence and monogamy are not always feasible options for women due to various socio-economic and cultural factors. Microbicides are products designed to be inserted in the vagina or rectum prior to sex to prevent HIV acquisition. The biannual Microbicides conference took place in Cape Town, South Africa from 23-26 April 2006. The conference was held for the first time on the African continent, the region worst affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The conference brought together a record number of 1,300 scientists, researchers, policy makers, healthcare workers, communities and advocates. The conference provided an opportunity for an update on microbicide research and development as well as discussions around key issues such as ethics, acceptability, access and community involvement. This report discusses the current status of microbicide research and development, encompassing basic and clinical science, social and behavioural science, and community mobilisation and advocacy activities.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Ex vivo culture of human colorectal tissue for the evaluation of candidate microbicides.

OBJECTIVES: Establishment of an in vitro model to evaluate rectal safety and the efficacy of microbicide candidates. DESIGN: An investigation and characterization of human colorectal explant culture for screening candidate microbicides to prevent rectal transmission of HIV-1 infection. METHODS: Human colorectal explants were cultured at the liquid-air interface on gelfoam rafts. Phenotypic characterization of HIV-1 target cells was performed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. HIV-1 infection was determined by the measurement of p24 antigen release, viral RNA, and proviral DNA accumulation. RESULTS: Colorectal explant CD4 T cells expressed higher CCR5 and CXCR4 levels compared with blood. Minor differences between the rectal and sigmoid colon were observed with a trend for slightly higher CCR5 and HLA-DR expression in cells from the sigmoid colon. Favourable culture conditions were established for colorectal tissue. Although tissue structure degenerated with time, CD4: CD8 cell ratios remained constant, and tissue supported productive HIV-1 infection. The ability of candidate microbicides to inhibit R5 HIV-1 infection was evaluated. Polyanion candidates, PRO2000 and dextrin sulphate, provided 99% protection at 1 microg/ml and 1 mg/ml, respectively, equivalent to 1/5000 and 1/40 of the vaginal formulations. The nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine (PMPA) provided protection at concentrations 1000-fold lower (10 microg/ml) than the proposed vaginal formulation (1%). Furthermore, non-NRTI UC-781 and TMC-120 provided greater than 99% inhibition at 3.3 or 0.33 microg/ml, respectively. No products demonstrated toxicity to rectal mucosa at inhibitory concentrations. CONCLUSION: Colorectal explant culture was shown to be a useful tool for the preclinical evaluation of potential microbicides. The data suggest that rectally applied microbicides might provide protection from HIV-1 transmission.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2006

Lack of decay of HIV-1 in gut-associated lymphoid tissue reservoirs in maximally suppressed individuals.

Although peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymph nodes represent a principal reservoir, the contribution of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) has not been evaluated. In 15 HIV-1-infected subjects with maximal suppression of HIV replication by highly active antiretroviral therapy, we quantified HIV-1 DNA and RNA in mucosal biopsy specimens, PBMCs, and plasma with ultrasensitive assays. We also calculated compartmental burdens of HIV-1 DNA-positive cells and characterized the temporal decay of these reservoirs in a period of 1 year (with projections to >50 years). HIV-1 RNA was detected in 20% of the subjects' mucosal biopsy specimens and in 80% of the PBMC samples. Mucosal HIV-1 DNA was detected in 80% of the subjects and in 100% of the PBMC samples. Calculated numbers of lymphoid cells containing "potentially replication-competent" HIV-1 DNA showed that the PBMC compartment contained approximately 70,000 such cells, and GALT contained approximately 160,000 cells. Rates of decay slopes for all 15 subjects in both compartments were not statistically significantly different when compared with each other or with zero slope. Our data indicate that GALT is a quantitatively important reservoir of potentially replicative cells containing HIV-1 DNA, harboring at least as many or more of such cells as the PBMC compartment. In well-suppressed patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy, the GALT compartment showed no clear pattern of HIV-1 decay, similar to that in the PBMCs.

DNA, Viral↗

PubMed2005

Binding and transfer of human immunodeficiency virus by DC-SIGN+ cells in human rectal mucosa.

The role of DC-SIGN on human rectal mucosal dendritic cells is unknown. Using highly purified human rectal mucosal DC-SIGN+ cells and an ultrasensitive real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay to quantify virus binding, we found that HLA-DR+/DC-SIGN+ cells can bind and transfer more virus than the HLA-DR+/DC-SIGN- cells. Greater than 90% of the virus bound to total mucosal mononuclear cells (MMCs) was accounted for by the DC-SIGN+ cells, which comprise only 1 to 5% of total MMCs. Significantly, anti-DC-SIGN antibodies blocked 90% of the virus binding when more-physiologic amounts of virus inoculum were used. DC-SIGN expression in the rectal mucosa was significantly correlated with the interleukin-10 (IL-10)/IL-12 ratio (r = 0.58, P < 0.002; n = 26) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Ex vivo and in vitro data implicate the role of IL-10 in upregulating DC-SIGN expression and downregulating expression of the costimulatory molecules CD80/CD86. Dendritic cells derived from monocytes (MDDCs) in the presence of IL-10 render the MDDCs less responsive to maturation stimuli, such as lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor alpha, and migration to the CCR7 ligand macrophage inflammatory protein 3beta. Thus, an increased IL-10 environment could render DC-SIGN(+) cells less immunostimulatory and migratory, thereby dampening an effective immune response. DC-SIGN and the IL-10/IL-12 axis may play significant roles in the mucosal transmission and pathogenesis of HIV type 1.

Cell Adhesion Molecules↗

PubMed2004

Increased HIV-1 mucosal replication is associated with generalized mucosal cytokine activation.

The purpose of this study was to characterize intestinal mucosal cytokine profiles in subjects with HIV-1 infection and their relation to mucosal viral load (MVL). Intestinal mucosal cytokine mRNA (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-gamma, IL-12, IL-10, IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, IL-6, and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted [RANTES]) and HIV-1 RNA were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On the basis of MVL quantification, the HIV-1-infected subjects were divided into 3 groups: undetectable MVL (<50 copies/microg of tissue total RNA), low MVL (>50 but <5000 copies/microg of tissue total RNA), and high MVL (>5000 copies/microg of tissue total RNA). Compared with the control group, significant reductions in RANTES, IL-2, and IFNgamma expression were seen in the undetectable MVL group (P < 0.005). IL-6 was significantly increased in all the HIV groups (P < 0.005), and RANTES, IL-10, and IFNgamma were increased in the high MVL group (P < 0.005). Subjects with high MVL have generalized immune activation with increases in T helper (Th)1, Th2, and proinflammatory cytokines, whereas subjects with undetectable MVL have reduced expression of multiple cytokines. The pathologic basis for these observations is unclear but may relate to the success or failure of antiretroviral therapy in controlling mucosal viral replication.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Extended treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients: genotypic, phenotypic, and rebound analyses.

OBJECTIVE: To study the potential development of genotypic and phenotypic resistance to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF) when used as a part of a 96-week HIV-1 treatment regimen for antiretroviral treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Clinical trial GS-98-902 was a placebo-controlled, 48-week phase 2 study of three doses of tenofovir DF when added to stable antiretroviral therapy for 189 treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients (mean of 4.6 years of prior antiretroviral treatment; 94% had nucleoside reverse transcriptase [RT] inhibitor [NRTI]-associated mutations). There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean HIV-1 RNA level at week 24 (average change in HIV-1 RNA level of -0.58 log(10) through week 24) with 300 mg of tenofovir DF once daily that was durable through week 48 (average change in HIV-1 RNA level of -0.62 log(10) through week 48). At week 48, 135 patients enrolled in an open-label, 48-week extension phase with 300 mg of tenofovir DF once daily added to their antiretroviral therapy. Genotypic analysis of plasma HIV-1 was performed for all patients after 96 weeks of study or upon early termination. Phenotypic analyses were performed at week 96 for patients with increases in HIV-1 RNA levels of > or =0.5 log(10) from week 48 to week 96. RESULTS: Genotypic results were obtained for 96 of 135 patients. NRTI-associated mutations developed in 41 (30%) of 135 patients from week 48 to week 96. Those mutations were primarily thymidine analog-associated mutations (33/41 patients) and developed while patients were receiving either stavudine or zidovudine. Two patients (1.5%) developed the K65R RT mutation (selected by tenofovir in vitro) but maintained HIV-1 suppression (-0.39 log(10)). These 96-week results were analogous to the 48-week results, in which 33% (n = 63) and 2.1% (n = 4) of patients developed thymidine analog-associated mutations or the K65R mutation, respectively. Although most patients maintained HIV-1 RNA suppression, an analysis of patients with increases in HIV-1 RNA levels of > or =0.5 log(10) (n = 21) from week 48 to week 96 was performed. For eight of 21 patients, development of primary protease inhibitor-associated or non-NRTI-associated resistance mutations was likely responsible for the HIV-1 RNA rebound. The remaining patients developed either no mutation (n = 3) or a new NRTI-associated mutation (n = 10) and were analyzed phenotypically. No phenotypic changes for tenofovir were observed in these analyses. In addition, no new mutations potentially associated with tenofovir DF therapy were identified. Overall, patients had a similar reduction in HIV-1 RNA levels at week 96 and at week 48 compared with baseline (-0.55 and -0.60 log(10), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Adding tenofovir DF (300 mg) to existing antiretroviral therapy for highly treatment-experienced patients with preexisting resistance mutations showed significant and durable reductions in HIV-1 RNA levels through week 96. Through 96 weeks of tenofovir DF therapy, 48 weeks of which included suboptimal doses of tenofovir DF, there was infrequent development of RT mutations associated with tenofovir DF therapy (K65R mutation, 3%), consistent with the durability of the observed HIV-1 RNA responses.

Adenine↗

PubMed2002

Genotypic and phenotypic analyses of HIV-1 in antiretroviral-experienced patients treated with tenofovir DF.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the virologic responses and mutational profiles in antiretroviral-experienced patients adding tenofovir DF once-daily to their existing regimens. DESIGN: Resistance analyses were performed for patients in a phase II placebo-controlled clinical trial of tenofovir DF. METHODS: HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and protease genes from plasma samples were analyzed genotypically and phenotypically at baseline, week 24, and week 48. RESULTS: Of 184 patients, 173 (94%) had baseline HIV-1 expressing one or more nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-associated resistance mutation. Protease inhibitor and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance mutations were observed in 57% and 32% of patients, respectively. Compared to placebo, significant reductions in HIV-1 RNA were observed for tenofovir DF-treated patients who had thymidine analog- (TAM), lamivudine- (M184V), NNRTI- or protease inhibitor-associated mutations. Patients with phenotypic susceptibility to tenofovir within 4-fold of wild-type responded durably to tenofovir DF 300 mg therapy with a decline in plasma HIV-1 RNA of > or = 0.5 log10 copies/ml; few patients had a more than 4-fold reduced susceptibility to tenofovir at baseline. Four patients (2%) developed the K65R mutation (selected by tenofovir in vitro) and showed 3- to 4-fold reductions in tenofovir susceptibility but no evidence of rebound viremia. Thirty-four percent of patients developed additional TAMs, coincident with concurrent zidovudine or stavudine therapy, but also showed durable HIV-1 reductions. There was no evidence of novel resistance to tenofovir. CONCLUSIONS: Adding tenofovir DF 300 mg to an existing regimen in patients with ongoing viral replication and a wide range of genotypic resistance patterns resulted in significant and durable HIV-1 RNA reductions. In addition, there was a low incidence of genotypic or phenotypic resistance to tenofovir DF arising during 48 weeks of therapy.

Adenine↗