A Stem Cell Therapy for a Functional Cure of HIV

[MartinusWyllt]

the tl/dr: Donor has mutation that makes them immune to viral penetration by HIV. Stem cell transplant from them to person with HIV (in 2007, 2 transplants). HIV completely non-detectable.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...20069146.shtml

The details: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrar...f-c6110aff9029

[jwdaniels]

If only stem cell research wasn't virtually illegal for most of the 2000s, imagine where we might be now...

[MartinusWyllt]

If only stem cell research wasn't virtually illegal for most of the 2000s, imagine where we might be now...

I know, that was the challenge in this study; the difficulty of the transplantation itself.

[KingOfCheese]

I believe that this was a bone marrow transplant.

Our immune systems are generated from cells derived from bone marrow (as well as much of our "blood"). Technically, these are stem cells--in that the cells self-replicate and turn into different types of cells. However, these are not embroyinc stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells--the types of stem cells that have provoked most of the ethics concerns and debate. Instead this is similar to the bone marrow transplants that have been going on for a long time.

Unfortunately, the ability to carry out bone marrow transplants from the rare "immune" individuals to the masses of infected HIV patients is not practical--either from an availability of bone marrow stand-point or a immune-match stand-point. Hopefully, this finding will allow the scientific community to more quickly identify more widely available alternatives.

[rokes]

I'm in an relationship with someone who's hiv+, and know what they went through.. it's a horrible disease, hopefully we'll find the cure soon

[MartinusWyllt]

Yeah, before the lock I just want to state that I started this thread to highlight a stem cell therapy that has resulting in an actual cure...a cure for AIDS...not for the politics.

[Cam_Neely]

Yeah, before the lock I just want to state that I started this thread to highlight a stem cell therapy that has resulting in an actual cure...a cure for AIDS...not for the politics.

It is amazing what they have discovered. I was reading The Economist on the way to work and they declared
"The End of AIDS? 30 years on, it look s as though the plague can now be beaten, if the world has the will to do so."
Thought it was a pretty crazy statement, but the article convinced me it is truly within our reach. Unfortunately, as with pretty much everything these days, as soon as someone reads something, they feel the need to point out how it was a.) the fault of their favorite party (in a good way) and/or B.) the fault of the other party (in a bad way)

Truth be told both the Reds and Blues are at fault for this taking so long

[Bodic]

Yeah, before the lock I just want to state that I started this thread to highlight a stem cell therapy that has resulting in an actual cure...a cure for AIDS...not for the politics.

I get that but you know what we mean this is going to be gone quick like but ty for the info.

[MartinusWyllt]

I believe that this was a bone marrow transplant.

Our immune systems are generated from cells derived from bone marrow (as well as much of our "blood"). Technically, these are stem cells--in that the cells self-replicate and turn into different types of cells. However, these are not embroyinc stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells--the types of stem cells that have provoked most of the ethics concerns and debate. Instead this is similar to the bone marrow transplants that have been going on for a long time.

Unfortunately, the ability to carry out bone marrow transplants from the rare "immune" individuals to the masses of infected HIV patients is not practical--either from an availability of bone marrow stand-point or a immune-match stand-point. Hopefully, this finding will allow the scientific community to more quickly identify more widely available alternatives.

I linked the paper, you can read the exact methods. I neither stated nor implied they used embryonic stem cells.

It is true, though, that transplantation methods working with stem cells derived from embryonic stems cells would be the same as any transplantation method involved hematopoetic....this is difficult and requires more development to be a consistent and effective treatment vector.

If we could establish a stem cell line derived embryonically with that requisite double mutation in that particular cell surface receptors we could have a live culture of cells that could be used to treat everyone.

[KingOfCheese]

I linked the paper, you can read the exact methods. I neither stated nor implied they used embryonic stem cells.

It is true, though, that transplantation methods working with stem cells derived from embryonic stems cells would be the same as any transplantation method involved hematopoetic....this is difficult and requires more development to be a consistent and effective treatment vector.

If we could establish a stem cell line derived embryonically with that requisite double mutation in that particular cell surface receptors we could have a live culture of cells that could be used to treat everyone.

My comments were an attempt to diffuse the political nature of the responses you were getting (which were linking this to embryonic stem cells) and were not directed at your post.

I share optimism that a future in vitro generated cell line might offer a broad cure in the future. However, I am pessimistic that this will occur any time soon. Without some true leap forward, I predict the science is 5-15 years off. And then the ability to commercialize and achieve regulatory approval even more a delay. I do believe we will get there eventually though.

[Meat-Head]

If only stem cell research wasn't virtually illegal for most of the 2000s, imagine where we might be now...

The guy was cured from adult stem cells... That kind of research AND therapy has never been illegal as far as I know.

It's also STILL the only kind of stem cell therapy KNOWN TO CURE stuff. I know a guy who was cured of Leukemia through adult stem cells.


THIS ARTICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BABIES OR RELIGIOUS PEOPLE OR POLITICAL PARTIES.


p.s. I now see Kingofcheese kinda beat me to this point.. +1 to you sir.

[Tolero]

THIS ARTICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BABIES OR RELIGIOUS PEOPLE OR POLITICAL PARTIES

Let's keep it that way then. Saw the Cube prowling around earlier, he was looking a bit hungry, you've been forewarned.

[Ziindarax]

the tl/dr: Donor has mutation that makes them immune to viral penetration by HIV. Stem cell transplant from them to person with HIV (in 2007, 2 transplants). HIV completely non-detectable.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...20069146.shtml

The details: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrar...f-c6110aff9029

This is impressive, and I hope this becomes available to people of all income - not just the rich.

[Fenrisulven6]

If only stem cell research wasn't virtually illegal for most of the 2000s, imagine where we might be now...

It wasn't.

"Stem cell research is not, in fact, either illegal or unfunded: The federal budget in 2003 included $24.8 million for human embryonic stem cell research -- up from zero in 2000. Private funding of stem cell research, which is unlimited, runs into the tens and possibly hundreds of millions of dollars. The current, admittedly hairsplitting policy came about because Congress in 1995 passed a ban on federal (but not private) funding for any form of research that involved the destruction of human embryos"


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2004Aug3.html

Donna Moss, West Wing: "'If it was up to the NIH to cure polio through a centrally directed program. . . You'd have the best iron lung in the world but not a polio vaccine. ..."

[MartinusWyllt]

The guy was cured from adult stem cells... That kind of research AND therapy has never been illegal as far as I know.

Not illegal, just couldn't derive new stem cell lines if you wanted to get any kind of NIH or other government funding (really all about the NIH, though, of course, not exactly sure how you'd try to swing a NSF grant where human cell lines were concerned).

If we're down to the 5-15 years that will be nicer than the perpetually-stated 20 years...I've hear that for a good seven years now.

Another medical feat I don't know ever made for lots of excitement involves regeneration of fingers using pig extra-cellular matrix...just having the ECM stimulates adult stem cells to rebuild structures.

[phalaeo]

Interesting- I'll point my fiance in the direction of this thread. He's a Gene Therapist with a specialty in bacterial/viral/stem cell stuffs. I'm certain he'd find it interesting and might even weigh in on the discussion.

[Fenrisulven6]

I hope this becomes available to people of all income - not just the rich.

The quality of your health care will not depend on your income.

It will depend on how politically connected you are. Enjoy.

[cardmj1]

Yall do realize that scientists have known about the CCR5 mutation for more than 10 years now. It happens in about 1% of European caucasions; believed to be the same blood lines that survived the Black Plague. What the Berlin Patient recieved was a donor marrow from a CCR5 mutation donor and that is all. Statistically, the Berlin Patient hit the Lotto. What these scientists have been trying to figure out is how to create a gene therapy that will work for all HIV patients. I wish them luck.

[cdemeritt]

This is impressive, and I hope this becomes available to people of all income - not just the rich.

This is simply a lucky first step...

Bone marrow transplants are very dangerous... The chances of a match are low from a non-relative, and there is a risk of rejection and death.

The Odds of a match between you and the very rare someone who has the mutation is very very low.

This man won the lottery...

Don't expect to see this offered anytime soon. There is a long ways still to go. (Not about income, just There will need to be a lot more that needs to be done to make this viable for masses)

It is a very exciting first ray of real hope in a long time...

[MartinusWyllt]

...What these scientists have been trying to figure out is how to create a gene therapy that will work....

This.

Finding a good and consistent delivery system for in vivo transfections to effect cures via gene therapy will be the next "antibiotics discovery" in medicine. One system I read about recently is trying to use AC field induction to effect in vivo tranfection via electroporation. In that paper they used a transcranial magnetic stimulator (which was developed to replace electroconvulsive shock) to transfect human kidney cells.

(Getting over into technical areas down this path, so sorry for the jargon.)