Early HIV treatment: IL-10 and interferon signals in controlling hidden HIV
STudy of Acute HIV for investiGating Eradication Strategies (STAGES): The role of IL-10 and IFN signaling
This project will try treatments that change IL-10 and interferon immune signals in people who started HIV treatment early to shrink the hidden virus and help control HIV without daily drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232344 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you started antiretroviral therapy (ART) very soon after getting HIV, this work will use blood samples and long-term follow-up to study immune signals that may help the body control the virus. Researchers will focus on two immune molecules, IL-10 and type I interferons (like IFN-β), because UCSF data showed higher levels linked with faster loss of the hidden HIV reservoir. They will compare people treated during acute infection with those treated later and measure HIV DNA and RNA in blood to track reservoir decay. The team will also explore cytokine-based ways to boost those signals so they might become therapies that reduce the reservoir and promote long-term control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Best candidates are people living with HIV who began ART during the acute/early phase of infection and who can attend clinic visits and give blood samples.
Not a fit: People who began ART long after infection, those with unstable health that prevents repeated testing or clinic visits, or those unwilling to share samples are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to treatments that shrink the hidden HIV reservoir and allow some people to control HIV long-term without continuous ART.
How similar studies have performed: Most previous HIV cure trials in people treated during chronic infection have not led to durable control, but observational data and early-treatment cohorts point to IL-10 and interferon pathways as promising new directions, and direct cytokine-based cure approaches remain relatively untested.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Sulggi Angela — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lee, Sulggi Angela
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.