The natural — medical law: transplantation gene method can inhibit HIV

Keywords: AIDS transplantation gene gene therapy

According to AFP, scientists announced on 15 February, the world's use of gene therapy in the treatment of AIDS in the largest trial made "significant progress", proves that this technology is both useful and safe.

They said that the test procedure of the advanced stages of data shows that seeking transfer genes in suppressing the AIDS virus (HIV) are valid.

The University of California Los Angeles Ronald · light an led researchers recruited 74 infected volunteers participate in the test, the test results published in the United States the nature — medical law (Nature Medicine) magazine's Web site.

This group of volunteers, over half were implanted in the blood stem cells, these stem cells is damaged with key genes of the virus infection, while others were harmless implantation of similar substances.

The gene coding for Ribonuclease, the substance is a small molecule. Once the cells infected with the AIDS virus, Ribonuclease will hinder virus replication.

Stem cells are progenitor cells, meaning that when these cells copy their descendants will carry the same genetic code.

These unusual stem cells under the action of RNase is not affected by the AIDS virus, the aim is to determine whether they can function in the body's immune, survivors and HIV in the loss of breeding grounds will retreat.

The name of "OZ1" test start after 48 weeks, those who implanted gene of volunteers and other volunteers, there is no difference between the data statistically.

But in 100 weeks later, there came the inspiring message: implanted gene ' viral markedly reduced. But being HIV eradication of immune cells CD4 cell count has increased.

However the new number of blood cells. In 4 weeks after the trial begins, a DNA test found that 94% of those participating in the test has this modified cells, this figure after 48 weeks down to 12%, in 100 weeks down to 7%.

All persons participating in the pilot did not have this kind of therapy.

Researchers say that this kind of therapy "is safe, although slow but efficient". "This shows that this gene therapy has the potential to cure AIDS, and represent the area have made significant progress in the future may be developed into a clinical medication. ”

Gene therapy as the forefront of medical research, in the 1990s. It depicts a scene: implant cells can repair the gene causing the disease of compromise of the gene, or like in "OZ1" test, hindering the development of the pathogens.