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Doctors who carried out a stem cell transplant on an HIV-infected man with leukaemia in 2007 say they now believe the man to have been cured of HIV infection as a result of the treatment, which introduced stem cells which happened to be resistant to HIV infection.
The man received bone marrow from a donor who had natural resistance to HIV infection; this was due to a genetic profile which led to the CCR5 co-receptor being absent from his cells. The most common variety of HIV uses CCR5 as its 'docking station', attaching to it in order to enter and infect CD4 cells, and people with this mutation are almost completely protected against infection.
Stem cell transplant has cured HIV infection
Seeded on Wed Dec 15, 2010 6:57 AM EST
Article Source: aidsmap.com- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (12)
The case was first reported at the 2008 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, and Berlin doctors subsequently published a detailed case history in the New England Journal of Medicine in February 2009.
They have now published a follow-up report in the journal Blood, arguing that based on the results of extensive tests, “It is reasonable to conclude that cure of HIV infection has been achieved in this patient.”
- 1 vote
#1 - Wed Dec 15, 2010 6:57 AM ESTIf this is the case it is an amazing breakthrough! But, unfortunately stem cell research is a right wing no, no, so might as well pull that carrott back!
- 4 votes
If these results can be duplicated on a larger scale, we'll know for sure, but for now...WOW!!!
This is a great discovery for medicine.
NavChief57
Um, no. Embryonic stem cells shouldn't be harvested for the purpose of experimentation. That crosses a fine line of "growing" embryos for the purpose of harvesting cells. However, adult stem cells are currently, and have always been available for use.
- 2 votes
#2 - Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:21 AM EST
Embryonic stem cells shouldn't be harvested for the purpose of experimentation.
Why not? they would just be thrown away otherwise. Seems like quite the waste for a promising therapy.
That crosses a fine line of "growing" embryos for the purpose of harvesting cells.
Except embryos aren't "grown" for harvesting. They're obtained from umbilical cord blood or from aborted fetus', which would otherwise be disposed of. Why not take full advantage of what we have?
However, adult stem cells are currently, and have always been available for use.
At least that's something. More could probably be done or discovered with embryonic stem cells.
- 6 votes
The use of embryonic stem cells DOES NOT equate to "growing embryos".
- 3 votes
Tri,
This wasn't an "experiment." This was a therapy for the patient's leukemia which appears to have had the side effect (because the stem cells also carried a resistance to HIV) of curing AIDS. I'll certainly allow for the possibility that the doctors hoped to see this result, however, stem cells would have been used in any case for his treatment.
While this is great news it isn't a feasible treatment for HIV, but is a great case to study. It is highly risky to radiate someones bone marrow(which destroys white cell production and red blood cell production) and replace it. It is also very difficult to find someone that has the genetic mutation that prevents the HIV virus from latching onto the CD4 cells (estimated at 1% of the European population, higher in Northern Europe).
This is great news nonetheless and hopefully allows science to jump further.
- 2 votes
#3 - Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:34 AM ESTTerrific! Hopefully they will soon be able to grow these stem cells in the laboratory . Although a grueling and risky treatment, many HIV positive people may opt for it for a chance at a cure. Very good news. Thanks
#4 - Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:21 AM ESTUnfortunately, regardless of the promise this study shows, the likelihood that it will lead to the eradication of AIDS is slim to none. All of this technology costs a ton of money, something that Africa and India do not have. I guess its a start though.
#5 - Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:29 AM ESTWhy isn't this the top story right now?
HIV, AIDS, limited effect of the treatment.
It is great news, but very limited.
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