In article <2qn1j7$67j at eagle.natinst.com> klopfer at natinst.com (Mike Klopfer) writes:
>From: klopfer at natinst.com (Mike Klopfer)
>Subject: immune transplant for treating hiv or organ rejection
>Date: 9 May 1994 23:12:23 -0500
>I read somewhere about transplanting a functioning human immune system
>into SCID mice. I was wondering if there are other examples of transplanting
>immune systems between species. I was wondering if this could be a potential
>treatment for hiv e.g. using the immune sytem of a species that isn't
>susceptible to the virus to replace the immune system of the hiv infected
>person.
>Along this line I've heard of a treatment (maybe it was called Total
>Lymphoid Irradiation) using radiation to destroy a persons immune
>system. Then the immune system can be restarted from saved stem cells
>possibly eliminating rejection of transplanted organs. I was wondering
>if something like this is being tried or used? If this is not successfull I
>would also be interested in finding out what is the best guess as to why not.
>Thanks for your time.
>mike
To my knowledge, there is no report that the transplantation of bone marrow
after destroying the original lymphatic cell pool is useful for AIDS
therapy. I think you will for sure reduce the number viruses present
but finally you will not be able to completely remove the virus. If you then
reconstitue the bone marrow (e.g.syngeic) remaining particles will attatch on
the CD4 positive T-cells evolved from the new stem cells. In addition, the
treatment by radiation used will dramatically activate HIV (e.g. by the
activation of NFkB, which in turn triggers immediate early gene transcription)
Have a nice day,
Manuel M. SIMON
