Cells Resistant to HIV Infection Show Promise to Future Gene Therapy Treatment

Researchers injected humanized mice with stem cells resistant to infection by HIV-virus. These stem cells have been genetically altered to remove the necessary receptor recognized by the HIV-virus in order to enter the cell. The cells later develop into an adult form of autoimmune T-cell. Although, human testing may be years away, the successful treatment in mice shows promise stated Foundation of Aids Research Vice President, Rowena Johnson.

The humanized mice used in testing the cells are mice with a human immune system. They react similarly to human infections including HIV. Stem cells injected into the mice later develop into T-cells a form of cell used by the immune system. The cells then divide to increase number of HIV-resistant cells. As the cell numbers increase, HIV virus finds fewer targets to hit.

Some individuals have a natural resistance against HIV infection because a specific receptor called CCR5 is absent on the surface of T-cells. This presented a possible method for duplicating resistance using a method provided by nature. Stems cells can be similarly altered to remove the receptor site HIV needs to gain entry into the cell. Injection in humans with HIV-resistant cells is likely years away. The first step would be to test patients who already provide a source of stem cells available for testing.

HIV infection has been extensively reserached since its discovery in the early 1980s. Drug treatments for longterm care never completely remove the disease. Gene therapy using stem cells could show the best possible cure.