![Gene Therapy to Combat HIV Devised Gene Therapy to Combat HIV Devised](https://images.medindia.net/health-images/1200_1000/anti-hiv-medications.jpg)
‘Using a truncated form of the CD4 molecule as part of a gene therapy to combat HIV yielded superior and longer-lasting results. ’
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BACKGROUND CAR therapies have emerged as a powerful immunotherapy for various forms of cancer and show promise for treating HIV-1, the more prevalent of the two main forms of the virus. However, current applications of these therapies may not impart long-lasting immunity. Researchers have been seeking a T cell-based therapy that can respond to malignant or infected cells that may reappear months or years after treatment.
In a previous study, the UCLA researchers described the creation of blood-forming stem cells that carry genes for chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs. Once these genetically engineered stem cells are transplanted into the body, they form specialized infection-fighting white blood cells known as CAR T cells that specifically seek out and kill cells infected with HIV.
METHOD
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For the new study, the researchers removed those domains while adding another one that makes the cells resistant to infection and allows for a more efficient and longer-lasting cell response against HIV than before.
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IMPACT
The findings provide critical insights into the types of CAR molecules and approaches that are suitable for CAR therapies using blood-forming stem cells and that allow for optimal function and persistence of CAR T cells after development. The findings could influence the field of immunotherapy focused on engineering T cells with CAR molecules that are able to persist and form immunologic memory, and that can recognize and kill virus-infected or cancerous cells.
Source-Eurekalert