New HIV Treatment May Flush Infected Cells From Body
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An experimental treatment may help coax out hard-to-treat HIV-infected cells and improve the effectiveness of currently available treatments.
Researchers say recent advances in HIV treatments have lead to dramatic improvements in the health of many HIV-infected people. Many of those now have virtually undetectable HIV levels in their blood.
Yet despite the effectiveness of these treatments at reducing HIV levels, a persistent pool of HIV-infected cells remains and prevents complete elimination of the infection.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this study, researchers found that an immune system agent known as IL-7 can activate these latent cells and make them more susceptible to HIV drugs.
The results appear in the Jan. 3 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
New Approach May Improve HIV Treatment
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In the study, researchers compared the effects of combining IL-7 with HIV drugs in a group of 14 HIV-infected people. All of the participants had virtually undetectable HIV levels in their blood for at least one year before the study began.
The study showed that IL-7 was significantly more effective than other immune system chemicals in reactivating dormant HIV-infected cells that are currently untreatable.
Researchers say IL-7 works by increasing the turnover of latent pools of HIV by activating the cells, which promotes cell death and accelerates the clearance of the virus by HIV drugs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They say the results indicate IL-7 could potentially be combined with other agents to potentially deplete reservoirs of HIV in the body.
By Jennifer Warner, reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
SOURCE: Wang, F. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, January 2005; vol 115: pp 128-137.