A blood cancer drug has been found to attack dormant HIV cells, raising hopes for a new way to treat the virus. The drug, called venetoclax, is already used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
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In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers found that venetoclax could reactivate dormant HIV cells and make them susceptible to attack by the immune system. The study was conducted in mice, but the researchers say the results are promising and could lead to new treatments for HIV.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. When a person is first infected with HIV, the virus replicates rapidly and damages the immune system. However, over time, the virus can go into hiding, or "dormant." These dormant cells are not replicating, but they can still reactivate and cause the virus to rebound.
Current HIV treatments are effective at suppressing the virus, but they cannot eliminate it completely. This means that people with HIV are still at risk of developing AIDS if they stop taking their medication.
Venetoclax works by targeting a protein called BCL-2. This protein is essential for cell survival, and its inhibition can lead to cell death. In the study, the researchers found that venetoclax could reactivate dormant HIV cells by targeting BCL-2. This made the cells susceptible to attack by the immune system.
The researchers say that venetoclax could be used in combination with other HIV treatments to eliminate the virus from the body. They are currently conducting further studies to test this approach in humans.
This is a promising development in the fight against HIV. If venetoclax can be used to eliminate the virus from the body, it could offer a cure for HIV. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to develop safe and effective treatments.
Here are some additional things to know about this research:
- The study was conducted in mice, so it is not yet clear whether venetoclax would be effective in humans.
- More research is needed to determine the optimal dose and schedule of venetoclax for treating HIV.
- Venetoclax is a cancer drug, and it can have serious side effects. Therefore, it would need to be used with caution in people with HIV.
Despite these limitations, the research is a significant step forward in the fight against HIV. It raises hopes for new treatments that could eliminate the virus from the body.
