Gene therapy uses hematopoietic stem cells in the treatment of HIV / AIDS

Researchers at the University of California (UCLA) in the US have published a study that said a gene therapy using stem cells of hematopoietic patients could extend protection against the effects of HIV, type The virus causes AIDS.

In the report published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, animal tests showed that the therapy using T-cell receptor-containing lymphocytes (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells - CAR-T) not only destroyed. Pathogenic cells that continue to maintain this effect for the next two years.

Current drugs can block an amount of HIV in the body that is nearly undetectable and only an effective immune response can kill this virus.

Scientists say they are continuing to look for ways to increase the body's immunity to fight HIV by transplanting hematopoietic stem cells to specific goals and directly destroying HIV-infected cells. throughout the life of each individual.

HIV uses CD4 white blood cells to infect healthy cells, scientists use CAR molecules to block the necessary interaction between HIV and CD4 molecular surface cells to make cells T-radicals directly affect infected cells.

According to scientists, when the molecule CD4 leukemia cells bind to HIV, other parts of the CAR molecule will start and kill HIV-infected cells.

In tests on mice and monkeys, the effect of hematopoietic stem cells using the CAR-T technique may last more than two years without any adverse side effects.

In addition, these cells are distributed through lymphocytes and intestinal tract, where HIV regenerates and maintains primarily in the patient's body.

CAR-T therapy is considered an effective method to boost the immune system. This therapy has been used to treat many different types of cancer and shows hope that can be used to treat patients with HIV type 1.

The most important thing is that CAR-T therapy is effective in directly finding and killing HIV-infected cells.

The study could help find safe and life-long treatments for HIV-infected patients.

In addition, this is a new positive direction in therapeutic research, enabling scientists to find new, more effective combinations such as the combination of current Antiretroviral Therapy.