CYTARABINE-MEDIATED TRANSIENT IMMUNOSUPPRESSION REGIMEN ALONE FOR HIV CURE

Transient immunosuppression period mediated by induction chemotherapy in the absence of HAART with subsequent appearance of neutralization-enhancing RF (rheumatoid factor) antibodies (NeRFa) in the course of secondary immune response has been proposed to be the actual reason (Suslov KV, Med Hypotheses, 2019) for the achievement of HIV cure state in the “Berlin patient” (Hütter G et al., N Engl J Med, 2009). Replication of such an immunosuppression regimen in HIV-infected patients via a shortened mode (cytarabine; 100 mg/sqm per day; days 1 to 7) at the beginning of the asymptomatic period might lead to HIV cure like in the “Berlin patient”. The proposed cytarabine-based approach alone is safe for HIV-infected individuals and does not require any transplantation of stem cells. Notably, “functional cure” state might be achieved within 200 days after the period of cytarabine-mediated immunosuppression, similarly to the “Berlin patient”.