Engineered stem cells seek out and kill HIV in living mice - 0 views
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human stem cells can be genetically engineered into HIV-fighting cells
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CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes -- the "killer" T cells that help fight infection -- from an HIV-infected individual and identified the molecule known as the T cell receptor, which guides the T cell in recognizing and killing HIV-infected cells.
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CD4 cells are white blood cells that are an important component of the immune system, helping to fight off infections.
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engineering stem cells to form immune cells that target HIV is effective in suppressing the virus in living tissues in an animal model
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Expanding on previous research providing proof-of-principle that human stem cells can be genetically engineered into HIV-fighting cells
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The engineered stem cells developed into a large population of mature, multi-functional HIV-specific CD8 cells that could specifically target cells containing HIV proteins. The researchers also discovered that HIV-specific T cell receptors have to be matched to an individual in much the same way an organ is matched to a transplant patient.
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In this current study, the researchers similarly engineered human blood stem cells and found that they can form mature T cells that can attack HIV in tissues where the virus resides and replicates. They did so by using a surrogate model, the humanized mouse, in which HIV infection closely resembles the disease and its progression in humans.
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increased, while levels of HIV in the blood decreased. CD4 cells are white blood cells that are an important component of the immune system, helping to fight off infections. These results indicated that the engineered cells were capable of developing and migrating to the organs to fight infection there.