Stem Cell Engineering Developments And Advances In Providing HIV Immunity

Current research in HIV treatment is oriented toward developing a therapeutic that can permanently reduce viral load and restore functional immunity but without life-long and daily drug intake. A treatment like this would ultimately provide a cure for HIV/AIDS. The transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells is one of these possible methods. These cells can be genetically engineered with HIV resistance then transplanted into a patient, where they can differentiate and mature to develop an HIV-resistant immune system. This would provide a patient with life-long resistance to HIV and reduce the effects of AIDS and further viral replication. Thus, this method of treatment would provide a one-time, life-long cure for HIV/AIDS. Here we review current and recent developments in hematopoietic stem cell modifications, anti-HIV gene construction, in vitro HIV resistance, transplantation of modified cells, and the progress of different methods on animal and human trials.