A study published December 7 in a-peer reviewed online journal PloS ONE, suggests that researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute may have potentially discovered the type of promise about which the President spoke. The study provides proof – of – principle, or demonstrated feasibility, that “human blood cells can be engineered into cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells – a process that could potentially be used against a range of chronic viral diseases.
"We have demonstrated in this proof-of-principle study that this type of approach can be used to engineer the human immune system, particularly the T-cell response, to specifically target HIV-infected cells," said lead investigator Scott G. Kitchen, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a Member of the UCLA AIDS Institute. "These studies lay the foundation for further therapeutic development that involves restoring damaged or defective immune responses toward a variety of viruses that cause chronic disease, or even different types of tumors."
According to the article’s co-author, Jerome A. Zack, UCLA Professor Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology and Associate Director of the UCLA AIDS Institute, the next step in the process is to test the strategy on a more advanced model and gauge the feasibility of success in the human body.
“In 2007, an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS, and 2.7 million people contracted HIV. More than 15 million women are infected worldwide.” The findings of the study hold great promise for gaining ground in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
For more info: Advocate Report on UCLA Finding
UCLA Report
UCLA AIDS Institute
In Sciences Report on UCLA Finding
Presidential Executive Order
CNN Report Linking Stem Cells to HIV
Comments
Well heres hoping!
Lieb,J."Stimulating Immune Function to Kill Viruses." (2009) Amazon.
So does this mean that all the idiots that voted against stem cell research should not be treated for cures found because of the research?....
Can I point out that this process doesn't sound like it is using embryonic stem cells, but adult blood cells? This type of research has always been allowed and funded. The only objection has been to embryonic stem cells because they require the killing of a life to aquire them. Adult stem cells can be aquired in a non-violent, non-lethal way. Can I also point out that embryonic stem cell research has not produced a single cure to a single thing, but adult stems cells have already provided multiple treatments and cures.
Actually, most of the embryonic stem cells that researchers use come from discarded embryos from in-vitro fertilization procedures. Cells that would more than likely have been destroyed. I’m not sure which type the study used, but just wanted to clarify the typical origin.
Yes, the embryonic stem cell lines that they use do only come from discarded embryos from in-vitro clinics (ethically questionable as that is)... for now. The possibility that must be considered is the slippery slope of whether we will at any point consider using embryos from abortions or start fertilizing eggs as if we were embryo "farming"... both much more questionable practices.
Anyway, scientists are actually finding just as many or more developments in somatic stem cells (from the thousands of umbilical cords and placentas discarded every day) and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSC's) than any research with embryonic stem cells.
Come on, "just asking"! Those who lack the mental capacity for thinking need stem cell therapy more than anyone. I say, put them at the front of the line!
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