Scientists have developed a new strategy for fighting HIV
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Cells of T-helpers support the immune system of the body by organizing protection against HIV infection. When the number of T-helper cells decreases, the body becomes vulnerable to disease.
Not all T-cells are "experienced", there are also those who have not yet experienced infection. Scientists from the National Center for Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases in Mason found out why HIV predominantly pursues T-helpers in order to migrate to other tissues of the body.
"The immunodeficiency virus is capable of killing the majority of T cells with memory," says PhD in biology and lead author of the study Wai Feng Wong. "We want to find out what the difference between T-cells with memory and naive T-cells is."
The results of the study of scientists will be published in the next issue of the journal "Journal of Biological Chemistry".
"I think that the data we get will influence the whole direction of research in this area," Wong comments.
Cells with memory and naive T cells are very similar. Specialists have tried to understand the difference between T cells with memory and naive T cells at the molecular level.
T-cells with memory are in constant motion, they are always mobile. This is why they are attractive for the HIV virus, therefore, compared to naive T-cells, they are more vulnerable.
The movement of cells with memory is organized on the principle of a "treadmill" - from the inside it looks like a stream of falling down water in a waterfall. The bone supporting cell, the cytoskeleton, acts like a muscle.
For a long time, we could not understand how HIV can get to the center of the cell, get to its core. As the virus passes through the barriers of the cytoskeleton - it practically penetrates the wall - it was an absolute mystery.
It turns out that with the help of the receptor, HIV jumps over the "wall". Unlike cells with memory, naive T cells are not so sensitive, therefore it is more difficult to get to their nucleus. Their cytoskeleton is different from cells with memory, so in this case the virus will not be able to use the principle of "treadmill".
The ability of the HIV virus to mutations makes it virtually invulnerable to drugs. If scientists shift their attention from the virus itself to the cells that it hunts for, it may be possible to finally develop a new effective method to combat this disease.
"In principle, our new research strategy is aimed at understanding why the HIV virus is so viable. If we can find the answer to this question, we can block the virus with oxygen and leave it without support. However, you need to observe a strict balance, so as not to destroy healthy cells along with the virus, "the scientists say.
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