Abstract
Despite major advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), a definitive cure for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains elusive. This review aims to propose a unified, multidimensional framework for HIV cure that integrates virologic, immunologic, and clinical perspectives to guide future research and therapeutic strategies. A structured narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify relevant literature on HIV cure research. Articles published primarily between 2008 and 2026 were screened based on relevance, scientific rigor, and contribution to key themes. Findings were synthesized qualitatively to provide an integrated overview of emerging concepts, persistent challenges, and future directions in HIV cure research. Effective HIV cure strategies must integrate three interconnected dimensions: (1) virologic cure through durable suppression or elimination of replication-competent virus, (2) clinical cure through sustained remission without antiretroviral therapy (ART), and (3) immunologic cure through restoration of functional immune competence and inflammatory homeostasis. Current and emerging approaches, including latency-targeting agents, broadly neutralizing antibodies, therapeutic vaccines, immune modulators, and gene-editing technologies, demonstrate potential to bridge viral suppression with immune-mediated control. However, critical challenges persist, including reservoir heterogeneity, immune senescence, viral diversity, and the absence of standardized immunologic metrics. Proposed endpoints extend beyond CD4+ T cell counts to functional T cell responses, immune memory restoration, and normalization of inflammatory profiles. An effective HIV cure must integrate viral suppression, immune restoration, and functional remission. This unified, multidimensional framework provides a foundation for next-generation therapeutic strategies and clinical trial design aimed at achieving durable, host-mediated control.
Cite this
Seyi Samson Enitan; Chukwudi Amaechi Ofodile; Richard Yomi Akele; Ayodeji Olusola Olayanju; Okeoghene Marcel Edafetanure-Ibeh; Grace Eleojo Itodo; Chinedu-Madu Jane Ugochi; Joseph Chima Nnaji; Chukwuma J. Okafor; Comfort Bosede Enitan; Roselene Nmesoma Odimgbe; Dr okafor, (2026), Toward a Unified Multidimensional HIV Cure: Integrating Virologic, Clinical, and Immunologic Perspectives, Critical Reviews in Immunology, 46(3), 57-78
