Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) prolongs life, it does not fully restore health. For reasons that remain controversial, HIV-infected individuals doing well on therapy have a shortened lifespan as compared to their uninfected counterparts and also have a higher than expected risk of a number of non-AIDS conditions including cardiovascular disease. HIV-infected individuals have a 2-fold higher risk of myocardial infarction and higher rates of sudden cardiac death. While the underlying mechanism for these clinical observations is likely multifactorial, chronic inflammation in the setting of treated HIV as emerged as a key contributor to the disease process. IL-1 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells; IL-1 inhibition using canakinumab, a monoclonal antibody to IL-1, dramatically reduces inflammatory markers, and has been studied in > 10000 individuals without HIV in the CANTOS study without any significant safety issues. In order to determine the impact of IL-1 inhibition on systemic inflammation during long-term antiretroviral-treated HIV infection, we propose to perform a single center pathogenesis-oriented study assessing the impact of canakinumab-a human monoclonal antibody which inhibits IL-1-on systemic inflammation, T cell activation, and vascular inflammation. Given the putative role that inflammation has in contributing to viral persistence, we will also measure the impact of canakinumab on the size of the HIV reservoir. We will focus on safety in this study by only enrolling HIV-infected adults on long-term effective ART with CD4 T-cell counts =400 cells/mm3 and by performing a two-stage milestone driven study in which the first stage (Stage I) will enroll a small cohort of carefully monitored individuals (N=10). Onc safety is established, we will move to Stage II and randomize 100 subjects to canakinumab vs. placebo. Safety data will be carefully monitored by an independent safety monitoring committee throughout the trial. We propose the following aims:
Aim 1 : To determine the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of IL1- inhibition using canakinumab in effectively treated and suppressed HIV-infected adults. We will perform an initial pilot study in ten individuals who will all receive a single dose of canakinumab; if the drug is safe and well tolerated (as expected), we will enroll 100 additional individuals in a randomized, placebo controlled trial under Aims 1-3;
Aim 2 : To demonstrate that IL-1 inhibition decreases inflammatory markers and monocyte activation, and improves vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction among treated and suppressed HIV-infected individuals;
Aim 3 : To determine whether IL-1 inhibition reduces T cell activation and decreases the size of the HIV reservoir in blood. This application combines (1) a dedicated and successful multidisciplinary team with a strong record of collaboration and expertise in studying immune-modulating drugs in HIV, (2) the ability to rapidly recruit subjects from existing cohorts of HIV-infected subjects, (3) the collaboration of senior investigators performing innovative immunology assays and measurements of HIV persistence
Individiuals with HIV have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, and chronic inflammation is thought to underlie this disease process. In this study, we will test whether IL-1? inhibition using canakinumab will be safely tolerated in HIV-infected individuals and we will also test the role of inflammation and CV risk in the setting of HIV. This project will identify mechanisms that are related to chronic inflammation and immune activation in treated HIV infection. Understanding the mechanisms of this process will provide essential information for the management and treatment of both HIV and HIV-associated cardiovascular disease which are increasingly important issues as this population continues to grow older in the future.
| Libby, Peter; Loscalzo, Joseph; Ridker, Paul M et al. (2018) Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection in Atherothrombosis: JACC Review Topic of the Week. J Am Coll Cardiol 72:2071-2081 |
