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Researchers Modify T-Cells, Make Them HIV Resistant

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the changing-the-locks dept.

DieNadel writes to share that naturally occurring proteins called "zinc fingers" are being used in a new approach to AIDS treatment. Using modified T-Cells with the zinc fingers, researchers at the Pennsylvania School of Medicine have shown a reduction in viral load in mice. "'By inducing mutations in the CCR5 gene using zinc finger proteins, we've reduced the expression of CCR5 surface proteins on T cells, which is necessary for the AIDS virus to enter these immune system cells,' explains first author Elena Perez, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Penn. 'This approach stops the AIDS virus from entering the T cells because it now has an introduced error into the CCR5 gene.'"

7 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. law of unintended consequences... by conspirator57 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    what *else* do these surface proteins on the T cell do?

    maybe there is something those altered structures do that we will miss when they stop performing their function...

    not everything in the body is superfluous like the appendix or wisdom teeth.

    --
    "If still these truths be held to be
    Self evident."
    -Edna St. Vincent Millay
    1. Re:law of unintended consequences... by wizardforce · · Score: 3, Insightful

      whatever function they have, it's probably not as important as not dying of AIDS

      --
      Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
    2. Re:law of unintended consequences... by digitrev · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It would appear that way. That doesn't mean they are superfluous. This needs years of research and long term trials before this will be marketable. When you're fucking with the immune system, you better be goddamn sure you're not fucking with the wrong thing.

      --
      Cynical Idealist
  2. This is probably good news by Whuffo · · Score: 4, Insightful
    HIV is a polymorphic virus - it changes its "shape" often, making vaccines difficult / impossible to create. Sure, they can create a vaccine for variation 32b, but there's a bunch of variants and new ones show up from time to time. A nice simple AIDS vaccine that you can give to kids is - as far as we know at this time - impossible.


    But this technology may provide a way to defend against this virus. By changing the "shape" of our T-cells it will prevent the virus from recognizing its target. This would render it ineffective and be effective against the numerous variants.

    Of course, this is still early in the development cycle. There's always the chance of unintended consequences...

  3. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I know this is offtopic to the article, but ontopic to the parent post.

    Just because the Mayans calendar ended then means what exactly? They didn't even invent, let alone UTILIZE the wheel...

    I'm glad this was modded funny and not informative, every time someone says this I die a little inside...

  4. Re:Messin around with T-Cells a bad thing? by TooMuchToDo · · Score: 3, Insightful
    But what happens when one partner is unfaithful, contracts AIDS, and passes it on to the faithful partner?

    What happens when someone with AIDS rapes someone?

    What happens when someone with AIDS passes it along to their unborn child (a rare occasion now due to modern medicine)?

    Get off your high horse tool. Some people are infected not because of their behavior, but fate. A fix should be available for them, as well as everyone else infected.

  5. Re:So what? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I know this is offtopic to the article, but ontopic to the parent post.

    Don't apologize... it's the way discussions are supposed to work. Too bad that more mods don't realize it.

    This post is, sadly, only tangentally ontopic since I'm replying to something that wasn't the main point of your poost. Alas.