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Gene therapy could help treat HIV
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Scientists have managed to change genes in the blood cells of people infected with HIV, thanks to which patients are able to better resist the virus. According to experts, genetic modifications are the most effective and safe method of treatment. In the future, this method will eliminate the need to regularly take drugs that contain the virus. Now scientists know for sure that there are 1% of people in the world who have copies of the gene that protects against the immunodeficiency virus.
Now geneticists are trying to find ways to change the genome of this kind of genetic feature. It is known that infection with the immunodeficiency virus occurs through the surface protein CCR5 and at this stage, specialists have tried to turn off the genes that are responsible for the production of this protein. An experiment was conducted at one of the Pennsylvania universities, in which 12 volunteers took part. The participants' blood was filtered and as a result, certain cells were isolated from it, to which scientists added modified genes. After that, the blood was poured back into the participants. A month later, drug treatment of the volunteers was temporarily suspended and the immunodeficiency virus began to show activity in all but one, while scientists were able to determine that the cells had protection from the virus, their life cycle increased and they began to multiply. Experts believe that if the number of cells treated in this way in the body increases, then a person will be able to live with the immunodeficiency virus as a chronic disease. The only volunteer in whom the virus did not become active had a copy of the protective gene, so his body dealt with most of the matter on its own.
In addition, complete recovery from the immunodeficiency virus is possible, as evidenced by the case of a little girl from America, which is the second in the history of medicine. Doctors knew that a child who was infected with the immunodeficiency virus during intrauterine development had an extremely high probability of infection and therefore decided to conduct immune stimulation and antiviral treatment in the very first hours after birth. During the first year of life, the girl was carefully monitored and, as a result of the latest tests, doctors can confidently say that the girl has completely recovered. According to doctors, the decisive factor in the treatment of the immunodeficiency virus in children infected during intrauterine development are measures started immediately in the first hours after birth, in this case, the earlier the treatment is started, the greater the chances of success.
The first case of complete recovery from the immunodeficiency virus occurred in 2010, when doctors decided to take the risk of starting treatment of the child immediately after birth. The little patient received intensive postnatal therapy in the first day of her life, after which she underwent a nine-month course of standard treatment for HIV and became completely healthy.
In the near future, specialists intend to conduct a study involving 50 newborns with HIV.
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