The use of cell-delivered gene therapy for the treatment of HIV/AIDS

Immunol Res. 2010 Dec;48(1-3):84-98. doi: 10.1007/s12026-010-8169-7.

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a disease that impairs immune function, primarily by decreasing T-lymphocyte count. Its progression can be contained by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), but there are side effects that can be severe, and the development of resistance often forces the physician to modify the HAART regimen. There are no vaccines available for HIV. An alternative approach that could provide a path to a curative therapy is the use of cell-delivered gene therapy in which an anti-HIV gene(s) is introduced into hematopoietic cells to produce a population that is protected from the effects of HIV. In this paper, we review the field and discuss an approach using a short hairpin RNA to CCR5, an important co-receptor for HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genes, Viral / genetics
  • Genetic Therapy / trends
  • HIV / pathogenicity
  • HIV / physiology*
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, HIV / genetics
  • Receptors, HIV / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, HIV