AUSTRALIAN scientists have found a way to boost the power of the immune system, a technique seen to be capable of clearing an "HIV-like" infection from a mouse.
In a development that could point to a cure for HIV and other chronic viral infections in humans, the research at Melbourne's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is centred on a naturally occurring cell signalling hormone called interleukin-7 (IL-7).
Research leader Dr Marc Pellegrini said when a synthetic version of this hormone was given to mice it "boosted the immune response in a pretty profound fashion" - so much so it cleared a virus considered a close match to HIV.
"We've shown that persistent use over three weeks can actually clear infection and we would presume that this would be translatable to humans," Dr Pellegrini said.
"... This is the first time that we've used (IL-7) therapeutically to cure an infection and it looks like it is translatable to HIV."
IL-7 plays a key role in immune system development and maintenance, and the mice's extra dose was seen to reinvigorate their immune system's killer T Cells, which seek out and kill off invaders.
Critically, it did not prompt a massive over-reaction that could have prompted the immune system to attack healthy parts of the body in a damaging auto-immune response.
It is hoped this boosting effect would be sufficient - when used alongside conventional anti-retroviral drugs which can now kill off the HIV virus - to help a human immune system clear the body's "latent reservoirs" of HIV.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/mo ... 5999892111
HIV cure on the horizon?
HIV cure on the horizon?
Let's hope...
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