Possible Cure for AIDS
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Stem cell treatment may be the answer in the AIDS fight.
Scientists are claiming an advance in the battle against the deadly AIDS virus, a possible method of protecting the immune system against HIV, by using stem cell treatment.
AIDS forms in the latter stages of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. A preliminary test-run of the new treatment has returned positive results, raising hopes of a superior method of therapy that may become available for people who live with the disease.
Further research is being planned so that scientists may determine if the treatment could perhaps completely rid carriers of HIV, of infection altogether.
How does the procedure work? Genes which bridle the distribution of HIV in the human body, are isolated, and then introduced into human stem cells in a lab. The stem cells are then transplanted into the bone marrow of a patient.
Five AIDS patients who underwent bone marrow replacement as part of lymphoma cancer treatment, formed part of the first human trial, and received the stem cell transplants.
The patients’ conditions improved, due to the production and growth of new HIV-resistant white blood cells, formed by small quantities of the transplanted stem cells.
Even though the news is exciting and results seem promising, clinical testing will take at least 10 years before a treatment is readily available.
Worldwide, roughly 40 million people are infected with HIV, and each year an estimated three million people die from the virus.
Although the stereotype is that AIDS is restricted to the homosexual community, the number of heterosexuals with the infection have grown significantly over the last few years.
The bone marrow is capable of producing all types of blood cells, including the white blood cells necessary in the immune system. Scientists believe the future of AIDS treatment lies in protecting cells against an HIV attack through imported HIV-resistant stem cells.
AIDS expert and Network Director of the Scottish Stem cell Network, Dr Marilyn Robertson said: “This potentially looks very interesting and the combination of multiple genes could tackle the ability for the virus to mutate and get around therapies. The research is still in its early stages so clearly there needs to be more work done before it could be used as an effective treatment.”
HIV and Aids charities, describing the experimental treatment as “promising”, welcomed the early results of the tests.
I am very happy that the treatments are being started now in the world.
The research should be promoted and supported through so that it be speedily completed. Many people are dying and many were infected accidentally hence not their fault