Antibody therapy against AIDS

2009/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

In SIV monkeys, researchers at Emory University in the United States have tested antibody therapy with very satisfactory results. The SIV virus is equivalent to human HIV and the antibody used by researchers affects a protein, the PD-1 protein.

PD-1 protein reduces the immune response. The researchers thought that without this protein some cells of the immune system would be strengthened and they have shown this: the T-killer cells that attack the viruses are aggravated by removing the protein through the antibody. Thus, monkeys who did not receive treatment died five months after being infected with the SIV virus, while those who received treatment have not shown symptoms during the same period of time.

In addition, the PD-1 protein is not only reduced with the AIDS virus, but also with other long-term infections. That's why they think this antibody can also be suitable for treating hepatitis C and cancer.

The study has been published in the journal Nature and, for now, tests have been carried out in monkeys. Soon they set out to start testing in humans.