Along the lines of a "general factor", but still trying to "improve" the
patients own T cells, there is the possibility of using retrovirally
introduced genes to beef up the immune cells. The advantage to this is that
a retrovirus (mutated to prevent replication, of course) can be targeted to
a specific tissue or cell type. For example, using a deactivated HIV-like
vector could target a resistance gene (yet to be developed) to CD4+ T cells.
This obviates the need to remove cells from the patient. In fact, this type
of gene therapy is already in the works for genetic diseases (cystic
fibrosis, for example).
BioKen
--
Ken Frauwirth _ _
frauwirt at mendel.berkeley.edu |_) * |/ (_ |\ |
Dept. of Molec. & Cell Bio. |_) | () |\ (_ | \|
Univ. of Cal., Berkeley .sig made under strict rabbinical supervision
