HIV

New Research Suggests Way To Eliminate Virus From Body A team of scientists found a way to pre- vent HIV from disabling macrophages, important cells in the immune system that help to destroy in- fections. Although the finding needs more to do, the team believe that protecting HIV from reproducing inside these integral immune system cells may help bring us closer to developing a cure for the virus. In this study, the team describes how they were able to maintain macrophages’ natural defenses against invading viruses, including HIV. According to the research, HIV is normally unable to reproduce inside of macrophages due to a protein called SAMHD1. 

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However, there is a moment of opportunity when macro- phages temporarily switch off this protein, for reasons that are still unclear, which gives HIV a chance to reproduce inside the cells. The team found that adding a molecule known as an HDAC inhibitor to the macrophage cells prevents SAMHD1 from switching off, thus closing this window of opportunity for HIV reproduction....feels exciting, if it works. The finding is particularly important because HIV uses macrophages as reservoirs. The virus hides inside macrophages to avoid treatment efforts.

The virus then repro- duces inside of the macrophage cells once the coast is clear. Figuring out a way to eliminate this behavior could allow doctors to rid the virus from the body for good. “Our findings could help explain why some people undergoing antiretroviral therapy for HIV continue to have HIV replication in the brain, as the infected cells in the brain are typically macrophages,” The researchers explained. “While this is a barrier to achieving control of HIV in just a minority of patients, it may more importantly be a barrier to a cure.” For now, further tests are required before this treatment can be used on human subjects. However, human macrophages in lab cultures and mice macrophages in the animal’s brain tissues responded very well to being treated with an HDAC inhibitor. 

HIV, although does not directly harm patients, it destroys their ability to fight off other infections, making something as minor as a cold to have a much more severe effect on the body. In another research, published during 1st week of 2017, searchers used a lab-engineered antibody to help neutralize HIV in HIV-posi- tive patients. The antibody helps to search out the virus from its many hiding places, making it easier for the patient’s own immune system cells to attack and kill it. Theoretically, this process could result in both a cure for the virus and a vaccine against it.