A paper in the New England Journal of Medicine reports a potential cure for an HIV+ patient. The individual had HIV, and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Amazingly, after a stem cell transplant for his AML, the patient appears not only to have been cured of his leukaemia, but also of his HIV.

The donor of the stem cells has an unusual genetic deletion which is thought to be protective against HIV-1. Basically the absence of the this CCR5 allele (part of a gene) affects the way HIV-1 can enter cells. If all of your CCR5 alleles have this specific deletion, it means the individual is highly protected against HIV-1 infection.

The researchers are understandably excited by this. However it is very early days and there is still a very long way until this becomes a realistic treatment option for HIV+ individuals.

I’ve put the full reference details of the paper below - hopefully you’ll be able to access it through your University Library! I’ve attached the abstract too (didn’t think I should post the full text in case it breached copyright…!).

Long-Term Control of HIV by CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell Transplantation

Title: Long-Term Control of HIV by CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell Transplantation

Author(s):
Hütter, Gero M.D.; Nowak, Daniel M.D.; Mossner, Maximilian B.S.; Ganepola, Susanne M.D.; Müig, Arne M.D.ß; Allers, Kristina Ph.D.; Schneider, Thomas M.D., Ph.D.; Hofmann, Jörg Ph.D.; Kücherer, Claudia M.D.; Blau, Olga M.D.; Blau, Igor W. M.D.; Hofmann, Wolf K. M.D.; Thiel, Eckhard M.D.

Issue:
New England Journal of Medicine; Volume 360(7), 12 February 2009, p 692–698

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