Figure 1.

Autologous dendritic cell vaccines are prepared using the patient's own monocytes from PBMCs obtained through leukapheresis. The monocytes are stimulated in vitro with growth cytokines to induce differentiation into immature dendritic cells. The dendritic cells may then be loaded with HIV-1-derived antigen, commonly introduced via mRNA electroporation, after which they will become mature, antigen-presenting dendritic cells. They can then be formulated into a vaccine that is administered to the patient to elicit a T-cell response specific to the HIV-1 antigen and evoke an enhanced response against HIV-1-infected cells.