HIV/AIDsHIV/AIDsPossible Treatments Possible Treatments (Stem cell)(Stem cell)

Garrett Reid

Block 3 (Jensen)

The disease…The disease…

The Immune System The Immune System (Immunodeficiency)(Immunodeficiency)– Specifically: Helper T-Cells, Specifically: Helper T-Cells,

Macrophages, and dendritic Macrophages, and dendritic cells cells

AIDS (Not HIV) is what leads AIDS (Not HIV) is what leads to deathto death– Causes a total shut down of Causes a total shut down of

the body’s immune systemthe body’s immune system– AIDS doesn’t kill you…AIDS doesn’t kill you…– HIV causes symptoms HIV causes symptoms

Fever, rash, muscles aches and swollen lymph nodes and glands

How many people in the US How many people in the US and/or worldand/or world– Estimates vary, ~1,000,000 in Estimates vary, ~1,000,000 in

US aloneUS alone– 31.3 Million adults and 2.1 31.3 Million adults and 2.1

million children World Widemillion children World Wide– There is an upside…There is an upside…

Normally…Normally…

In the healthy body:In the healthy body:– When an antigen enters the body helper T-Cells bind to the When an antigen enters the body helper T-Cells bind to the

MHC’s of the foreign body signaling it’s destructionMHC’s of the foreign body signaling it’s destruction After this, the body is programmed towards the antigens After this, the body is programmed towards the antigens

destruction should it enter the body again.destruction should it enter the body again.

Best current Best current treatment treatment Because HIV/AIDS can mutate and become immune to treatments Because HIV/AIDS can mutate and become immune to treatments

at an accelerated pace, most treatments involve a at an accelerated pace, most treatments involve a chemical cocktailchemical cocktail– 47 (give or take) different medications47 (give or take) different medications– Not a simple methodNot a simple method– This treatment carries with it many complicationsThis treatment carries with it many complications

Patients play the side effect game Patients play the side effect game

The chemical compounds are a burden on the bodyThe chemical compounds are a burden on the body– Extremely large structuresExtremely large structures– Designed now so the body to not be able to break it downDesigned now so the body to not be able to break it down

Intended to extend the length of treatment Intended to extend the length of treatment

Stem Cell Treatment Stem Cell Treatment

HIV has been found to cause HIV has been found to cause an associated form of an associated form of Lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and Lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin’s)non-Hodgkin’s)

Treatments pertaining to this Treatments pertaining to this include a full irradiation of include a full irradiation of the body and using a stem the body and using a stem cell/bone marrow transplant cell/bone marrow transplant to help the body recover. to help the body recover.

Stem Cells being used in Stem Cells being used in these treatments are these treatments are Peripheral blood stem cellsPeripheral blood stem cells

Also, studies have shown that Also, studies have shown that some people have a protein some people have a protein aimed towards slowing the aimed towards slowing the spread of HIV, what doctors spread of HIV, what doctors have begun to do…have begun to do…