Stem Cells for HIV Treatment
by
Enrique Rivero ,
UCLA Health Sciences |
2010-06-29
BACKGROUND: HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, and it attacks the
immune system. You can get HIV from contact with infected blood, semen,
or vaginal fluids. It cannot be spread by kissing or sharing drinking
glasses with an infected person. An estimated 1.2 million persons in the
United States are living with HIV. It's also estimated that 24 to 27
percent of those people are undiagnosed and unaware of their infection.
These statistics are according to the Centers for Disease Control.
TREATMENT:
Current U.S. Guidelines list several preferred regimens for people
starting anti-HIV treatment. They all contain two nucleoside analogs:
emtricitabine (Emtriva) and tenofovir (Viread). Many other combinations
are listed as "alternative regimens." Other combinations are listed for
use only when a preferred or alternative regimen cannot or should not be
used.
USING STEM CELLS: Researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute
have for the first time demonstrated that human blood stem cells can be
engineered into cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells -- a
process that potentially could be used against a range of chronic viral
diseases. The study, published in the-peer reviewed online journal PLoS
One, provides a proof-of-principle -- that is, a demonstration of
feasibility -- that human stem cells can be engineered into the
equivalent of a genetic vaccine.