HIV, Immune 'Codes' Identified for Treatment Suspension

Personalized therapeutic strategies and sustainable ones that, in the future, could reduce dependence from drugs in selected patients living with HIV. It is this is the path that opens up thanks to the study carried out from the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, which identified the biomarkers key - the 'codes' of the immune system - in patients treated early and are associated with the presence extremely reduced levels of HIV virus in the body. A group of adolescents and young adults born with HIV and treated since early childhood, in fact, he has shown a notable infection control capacity, keeping the virus in one been almost inactive. The in-depth immunological analysis was possible thanks to to the use of a leukapheresis procedure, which allowed the safe collection of large quantities of lymphocytes, allowing for advanced characterization of the system immune. The data obtained highlighted an almost total absence of intact proviruses (the active, replicating forms of the virus) and the presence of highly active natural killer (NK) cells functional even after decades, a sign of immunity innate enhanced. Another important observation concerns the localization of residual virus: in some cases, HIV is present in genetically inactive areas of the human genome, where has minimal chances of replicating. This could be the result of the pressure exerted by early therapy, which would push the virus towards silent and less dangerous areas. Very important parameters from a clinical point of view, because can help to recognize those patients for whom it is possible safely evaluate the suspension of therapy antiretroviral.