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HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”. Viruses work by entering the cell of the person it is infecting and using it to multiply in the body, killing the cell in the process. HIV is different in that it attacks the immune cells of the body. Immune cells help us fight off disease. So, when HIV attacks these cells, people become more vulnerable to other diseases and infections. There is still no cure for HIV and it remains a lifelong disease however, with continued research, we may be moving closer to a widespread cure for the virus.
Researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University have experimented to see how effective a stem cell transplant is. Stem cells are the “raw materials” of our body that then change certain characteristics to form cells with a specialized function. By transplanting new stem cells, the person’s body can use these cells to create more immune cells and fight against other diseases. These donor cells must have one key characteristic - they have a mutation that means that HIV cannot enter and infect the cell. In this way, the transplanted cells can help the body fight against diseases and infections without being affected by HIV.
The scientists conducted this experiment on primates in a lab. It was seen that 2 out of the 4 given stem cell transplants were cured of HIV. However, these primates did have to be treated for something termed graft versus host disease. This is when the transplanted immune cells or grafted immune cells identify the host’s body cells as unfamiliar and begin to attack them thinking they are dangerous. This was the first time transplant recipients have survived in the long term.
Researchers also observed that HIV was removed from the body in a series of steps. Different areas of the body were cleared of the virus one after the other. This suggests why some HIV patients were thought to be cured but later saw this disease return. In other words, their body had not been completely cleared of HIV and so the virus continued to spread.
While this cure is promising, it is still in early development and the process is still speculative. More research has to be done on the 2 primates that were successfully cured of HIV such as digging deeper into their immune responses.
Works Cited
HIV.gov. “What Are HIV and AIDS?” HIV.gov, 13 Jan. 2023, www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids/. Accessed 30 May 2023.
Mayo Clinic. “Stem Cells: What They Are and What They Do.” Mayo Clinic, 19 Mar. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117. Accessed 30 May 2023.
Science Daily. “Research Offers Clues for Potential Widespread HIV Cure in People: New Study Reveals First Details on How Stem Cell Transplantation Can Kill Virus That Causes AIDS.” ScienceDaily, 25 May 2023, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230525141517.htm. Accessed 30 May 2023.
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