Methods for treating HIV infected subjects

A method for expanding a population of CD4+ T cells from an HIV-infected individual in number of from about 100 to about 100,000 fold over the original CD4+ T cell population or to about 10 log10 to 12 log10, comprising:

• a) contacting a population of CD4+ T cells from the HIV-infected individual ex vivo with a surface comprising:
• 1) a first agent which provides a primary activation signal, thereby activating the CD4+ T cells, wherein the first agent is selected from the group consisting of an anti-CD3 antibody or a CD3-binding fragment thereof, an anti-CD2 antibody or a CD2-binding fragment thereof, and an antigen in a form suitable to trigger a primary activation signal in the T cell when complexed with the TCR/CD3 complex;
• and
• 2) a second agent which stimulates a CD28 antigen, thereby inducing proliferation of the activated CD4+ T cells, wherein the second agent is selected from the group consisting of an anti-CD28 antibody or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, B7-1 or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, B7-2 or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, a B7-1Ig fusion protein that interacts with CD28, and a B7-2Ig fusion protein that interacts with CD28,
• wherein said first agent and said second agent are attached on the same surface;
• b) adding exogenous IL-2 to the population of CD4+ T cells from the HIV-infected individual, such that the population of CD4+ T cells from the HIV-infected individual increases in number from about 100 to about 100,000 fold over the original CD4+ T cell population or to about 10 log10 to 12 log10.