Multiomic analysis of ART-interruption cohorts identifies cell-extrinsic and -intrinsic mechanisms driving lymphocyte-mediated control of HIV rebound

The immunological mechanisms regulating HIV rebound after antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption remain unclear. We examined relationships between host factors, HIV reservoir, and HIV time-to-rebound after analytical treatment interruption (ATI) by characterizing pre-ATI peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 75 ART-suppressed people with HIV (PWH) using high-parameter methods. Across interventional (CLEAR, TEACH, REDUC) and non-interventional (A5345) cohorts, delayed rebound was not associated with intact HIV. Cohort-specific immune effectors were associated with delayed rebound. RNA sequencing of CD4+ T cells from A5345 revealed that mTOR inhibitor DDIT4 and zinc finger protein ZNF254 were associated with delayed rebound. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that DDIT4 and ZNF254 suppressed HIV expression. Metformin induced DDIT4 and suppressed HIV expression in primary cells and cells from ART-suppressed PWH, suggesting that this affordable diabetes drug could be repurposed to silence HIV. Our results support pursuit of both immune- and HIV-silencing strategies to achieve ART-free HIV remission.