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Published online 11 February 2009 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2009.93
News: Briefing
Stem-cell transplant wipes out HIV
But the treatment is too risky to help most who are infected with the virus.
A man may have been cured of both HIV and leukaemia after receiving a stem-cell transplant from a donor who is genetically resistant to HIV.
About two years after the procedure, there is still no sign of the virus, even though the patient no longer takes antiretroviral drugs.
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I really appreciate the experiment cos' I believe it all starts with ONE! And the other aspects discussed in the article are encouraging. As you mentioned that transplanting is basically not possible in all patients, looking for CCR5 blockers is a better option. I work with HIV positives and this news enhances my hope. Thanks
This achievement is a reminder especially for some sectors of the society, that believe stem cell research should be avoided, they should change their preconceptions.
This guy's life was pretty dismal; he had both Leukaemia and HIV. He goes into the operating room and then wakes up, cured of both illnesses. This guy must feel like he won both the lottery and the Nobel prize in a single day. Congrats to science and the patient.
Hey Daniel Colluci, News Flash: These are bone marrow stem cells, NOT embryonic stem cells. No aborted babies were used in this procedure. I'll keep my preconceptions right where they are.
Great news. N=1 may also be very important for this finding as new ray of hope for HIV. Of course more numbers will be further needed.-Vivek Rai (CUMC, NY).
While the CD4+ T cells receptors being the entrance for HIV, but does CCR5 mutation cause any compromisation in immune system?
I enjoyed reading this article (QA)
This is similar to pacients with DENGUE, in which the virus compete with HIV for interaction with CCR5 receptor. In the fisrt month the blood amount of HIV is reduced by 90%, but after that the amount return
Two things to be kept in mind. (1) A mutation is a mutation and thus may bring the gene out of its normal function; (2) stem cell ages and dies, too. So the patient got this double blessing still need to watch his life carefully. We also need to keep an eye on this ONE success. I wish Nature will keep this news for long time and provide a 5-, 10-, 20-, or more years follow up.
It is indeed a remarkable step forward. However I wonder whether this particular recepient is a Sperman as most of the HIV positive patients will not survive the onslaught of a Stem Cell Transplant and the consequent worsening of his already existing immunosuppression. Prof.K.A.Salim.
Dear Caleb F, perhaps you should read a little bit more about the Stems cells research, for example phisicians could use and collect stem cells from a baby?s umbilical cord, apparently this method does not presents no serious risk to either mom or baby as it is collected after birth, making them a non-controversial source of stem cells.
It is indeed a good attempt to give life to an individual suffering from two different dreaded diseases. But I feel that more research is needed in this context before reaching to any final conclusion.The response of transfused stem cells in such a patient after a few months or probably after afew years (if the patient survives) needs to be monitored. If it gives satisfactory results, why not stem cells research be promoted in the best interest of human health services. This experiment does not point out as what would happen when the same experiment is done in those individuals whose CD+Tcells use CXCR4 as co-receptors. It needs to be explored for wider application of the technology.