Lancet: Depletion of latent HIV-1 infection in vivo... (Cure for AIDS)

[Sgent]

Ok, this is still in its infancy, but this could be the single largest breakthrough in HIV treatment since we started using cocktails -- maybe larger. I quote from the Lancet on a new article coming out this week -- the following is the abstract, and is acceptable for reproduction. ----


The Lancet 2005; 366:549-555

DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67098-5
Depletion of latent HIV-1 infection in vivo: a proof-of-concept study

Ginger Lehrman a, Ian B Hogue a, Sarah Palmer b, Cheryl Jennings c, Celsa A Spina d, Ann Wiegand b, Alan L Landay c, Robert W Coombs e, Douglas D Richman d, John W Mellors f, John M Coffin b, Ronald J Bosch g and David M Margolis email address a h


Persistent infection in resting CD4+ T cells prevents eradication of HIV-1. Since the chromatin remodeling enzyme histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) maintains latency of integrated HIV, we tested the ability of the HDAC inhibitor valproic acid to deplete persistent, latent infection in resting CD4+ T cells.
Procedures

We did a proof-of-concept study in four volunteers infected with HIV and on highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). After intensifying the effect of HAART with subcutaneous enfuvirtide 90 μg twice daily for 4–6 weeks to prevent the spread of HIV, we added oral valproic acid 500–750 mg twice daily to their treatment regimen for 3 months. We quantified latent infection of resting CD4+ T cells before and after augmented treatment by limiting-dilution culture of resting CD4+ T cells after ex-vivo activation.
Findings

The frequency of resting cell infection was stable before addition of enfuvirtide and valproic acid, but declined thereafter. This decline was significant in three of four patients (mean reduction 75%, range 68% to >84%). Patients had slight reactions to enfuvirtide at the injection site, but otherwise tolerated treatment well.
Interpretation

Combination therapy with an HDAC inhibitor and intensified HAART safely accelerates clearance of HIV from resting CD4+ T cells in vivo, suggesting a new and practical approach to eliminate HIV infection in this persistent reservoir. This finding, though not definitive, suggests that new approaches will allow the cure of HIV in the future.
Affiliations

a University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 753901, USA
b HIV Drug Resistance Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MA, USA
c Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
d University of California San Diego and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA
e Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
f University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
g Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
h North Texas Veterans Health Care Systems, Dallas, TX, USA

Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Prof David Margolis

The Lancet (requries registration)

[Sgent]

1. One other thing

The drug used -- Valproic Acid is more commonly known as Depakote, and has been around for decades. Its inexpensive, we know the side effects (and they aren't terrible). I just hope they can do enough research to figure it out.

[Betsy Ross]

5. Depakote

Depakote reations are ugly, but tolerable. I gained 90 pounds when I was on it. Had legs like telephont poles. Lost the weight when I went off. Also made my hair fall out. Grew back extremely curly when the drug was discontinued.

[yorkiemommie1]

2. this would be wonderful

please continue to update.

[ecoalex]

3. Tetrasil Infusion is a Cure for Aids

Tetrasil infusion 1 x infusion cures aids

The CDC had a Patented Vaccine for Aids

www.boydgraves.com

[emcguffie]

4. Maybe now they'll work on CFIDS.

Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction/fibromyalgia.

Horrible horrible horrible. not fatal, but life-shortening and incredibly destructive.

Starved of research funds.

[loudsue]

6. My best friend has that.

No. There's not enough research on it. Not by a country mile.
But..there needs to be!

:kick::kick::kick:

[hvn_nbr_2]

7. Does BabelFish have a "biochem medspeak to English" translator?

I did understand this sentence: This finding, though not definitive, suggests that new approaches will allow the cure of HIV in the future.

That would be really good news.

[Sgent]

8. LOL

The importance of this article is that using Valproic acid -- which has been suggested as a possible solution in other articles, managed to eliminate detectable HIV in 3 of 4 patients given to.

Basically, there was a theory that this would work, they tested it, and the results look very promising. Promising enough that I would start taking Depakote if I had HIV (w/o stopping other drugs).

[hvn_nbr_2]

10. Thanks for the help. n/t

[CAcyclist]

9. See if this helps:

Prior to the trial, the number of cells infected with the AIDS virus that is not yet active in the cell (ie latent) was staying stable but after 3 months of treatment, the number of cells so infected were declining.

So the cells were being cleared of the AIDs virus before the AIDs virus had even been activated in the cells. So , as I understand this, this means that possibly HIV could be cured before it transitions into full-blown AIDs.

I'll try again if that's still not clear and I am not an expert on AIDs, either (I'm a veterinarian), so, please correct me if I am off in this interpretation.

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. Thanks for help. n/t