Two Important Developments in HIV/AIDS Treatment

One of the most pernicious effects of HIV occurs when the human body’s immune system degrades over time.  HIV is a long-lasting, evolving and adapting virus, and its ability to “wait around” in the human body is a key factor that allows it to take advantage of natural – and unnatural – aging effects on the body’s immune cells.  Over time, whether through natural aging or the effects of HIV – or both – immune cells degrade, losing their capacities to fend off the disease. 

Two new studies show some promise in combating these degrading immune cell effects in regards to HIV/AIDS.

In the first study – reported in the November 10th Journal of Experimental Medicine, a new method to potentially restore the immune system’s ability to fight HIV may involve therapies designed to impact the level of a specific protein on the T-cell.  T-cells, over time, can lose their ability to fight HIV.  Research is indicating the augmenting the levels of the TIM-3 protein on T-cells may positively impact the immune systems ability to combat HIV by aiding longer-term efficacy and health of the T-cell.

In a related area of research, a new study from the UCLA AIDS Institute found that a chemical in the Astragulus root may positively impact immune system longevity.  As the cells in the immune system age – or are worn down by disease – they lose their capacity to divide (reproduce).  The less immune cells, the harder it is for the body to fight diseases like HIV.

Taking a cue from ancient Chinese herbal therapies, the Institute looked at a chemical in the Astragulus root (many Chinese herbal therapies use this), and found that this chemical can slow or even prevent this negative aging effect in immune cell reproduction.   The more immune cells are able to continue to reproduce as the body ages, the more likely it is that the body will continue to be able to fight HIV/AIDS over time.

As with all studies in this area, more work needs to and will be done, and neither study represents a new wave of therapeutic treatments coming to a pharmacy new you in the very near future.  However, these are exciting and promising findings. 

As more and more people live and age with HIV/AIDS, more and more people will see a diminishing capacity of their immune cells to effectively combat HIV/AIDS over time.  These two studies show real promise in helping an aging and longer-living HIV/AIDS population deal with some of the negative long-term aspects of the human body’s immune system.