Towards Functional HIV Cure with Gene Therapy

Researchers are currently studying whether genetically-altered CD4 cells can produce a functional cure for HIV; that is, where HIV is still present in the body, but at undetectable levels without antiretroviral therapy.

Toulon, FR, September 28, 2011 -- The slow but steady progress toward an HIV cure -a functional one at least- has created buzz in the HIV research community.

The recent studies that have been conducted have contributed some positive news, and hopefully more is on the way. Case in point: Two clinical trials were conducted using a gene-based treatment method. This method is named the "zinc finger nuclease" and is a way to introduce a genetic mutation in a patient's T-cells. This mutation causes the cells to become resistant to HIV infection. Since the antiretroviral treatment makes the patient's uninfected T-cells protected from HIV, the already infected HIV T-cells progressively die and these resistant T-cells can expand.

The procedure is the following: CD4 T-cells are removed from HIV-positive patients and modified with zinc finger nucleases to induce a delta-32 mutation in the CCR5 gene that makes these cells resistant to HIV infection. The modified cells are then expanded and re-inserted into the body. This mutation occurs naturally in less than one percent of the world's population, but researchers have found a way to mimic the natural mutation in order to find a natural way to protect the immune system against HIV. After an infusion of these genetically modified cells, and antiretroviral therapy interruption, one HIV-positive patient in the study had a rise in his viral load, but then it dropped to undetectable levels. This is the goal of the "HIV functional cure" approach: to reduce the viral load in the body to the point where the immune system can handle it without the use of drugs.

The CCR5 receptor in CD4 cells is the front door for HIV, practically speaking. HIV enters cells through the CD4 and the CCR5 receptors and sets up shop there. The genetic mutation causes the CCR5 receptor to stop functioning, making it extremely difficult for HIV to penetrate the cell. Those who have mutations in both copies of the gene are practically immune to HIV infection.

Researchers are currently studying whether genetically-altered CD4 cells can produce a functional cure for HIV; that is, where HIV is still present in the body, but at undetectable levels without antiretroviral therapy. This will remove the need for life-long antiretroviral therapy and allow the patient to live a healthy, asymptomatic existence for the rest of their lives. Gene therapy on a grand scale is still years away, but the findings being discovered in recent studies are encouraging that we're much closer to an HIV cure than ever before.

Researchers are currently studying whether genetically-altered CD4 cells can produce a functional cure for HIV; that is, where HIV is still present in the body, but at undetectable levels without antiretroviral therapy.

Contact:
Alain Lafeuillade
CHITS
HIV cure
1208 Avenue Colonel Picot
83056 Toulon, France
33494616340
lafeuillade@orange.fr
http://www.hiv-eradication.org

This release was published on openPR.