The constant battle against HIV and AIDS seems to have gotten a medical research breathrough, since the latest study by researchers in the San Francisco VA Medical Center, or SFVAMC, seem to have gotten good results in a potential elimination of HIV cells.
According to Medical Xpress, it looks like pharmacologically enhancing the immune system of HIV patients will assist their bodies in eliminating infected HIV cells. The patients go through antiretroviral therapy in this study, titled "Stimulating the RIG-I Pathway to Kill Cells in the Latent HIV Reservoir Following Viral Reactivation."
Retroviral therapy is able to reduce levels of HIV cells in the blood, but this wouldn't be able to eliminate the HIV cells completely, and these cells, while latent, will continue to survive until they are reactivated. However, the study seems to have found out that using retinoic acid to stimulate the human's immune system will allow it to eliminate infected HIV cells in the body. A particular FDA-approved retinoic acid derivative, acitretin, will be able to allow the human's innnate immune system to target and destroy infected cells.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Peilin Li, says, "The current model of HIV treatment can help manage symptoms and increase the quality of life for patients, but it is not a cure." The patients will have to rely on taking these retinoic acids their whole lives while enduring side effects. Before introducing retroviral drugs into the body, the defense system should already be strengthened so that the immune system will immediately "recognize and kill the virus."
Dr. Li is very hopeful about this research, adding, "I think this can open new doors to fighting HIV. With further research, we can create clinical solutions that can boost immune system functioning and find a lasting cure for this disease. This is a patient-centered approach to HIV treatment that moves beyond treating symptoms and toward whole health."
There are currently no vaccines that can be used against HIV or AIDS. According to Ecumenical News, there is also a joint research from the Universities of Oxford, North Carolina and London to inject a "kick and kill" injection to eliminate dormant HIV cells. CrossMap also mentions a trial done in 2012 that was successful in keeping HIV cells dormant in their patients. Apparently, treating the HIV virus as early as possible is effective in keeping them dormant for years after the treatment.
Even now, millions are being put into HIV nad AIDS research around the world. It looks like these studies may also yield results by as early as 2018.
