HIV/AIDs Possible Treatments (Stem cell) Garrett Reid Block 3 (Jensen)

The disease… The Immune System (Immunodeficiency) The Immune System (Immunodeficiency) –Specifically: Helper T-Cells, Macrophages, and dendritic cells AIDS (Not HIV) is what leads to death AIDS (Not HIV) is what leads to death –Causes a total shut down of the body’s immune system –AIDS doesn’t kill you… –HIV causes symptoms Fever, rash, muscles aches and swollen lymph nodes and glands How many people in the US and/or world How many people in the US and/or world –Estimates vary, ~1,000,000 in US alone –31.3 Million adults and 2.1 million children World Wide –There is an upside…

Normally… In the healthy body: In the healthy body: –When an antigen enters the body helper T-Cells bind to the MHC’s of the foreign body signaling it’s destruction After this, the body is programmed towards the antigens destruction should it enter the body again. After this, the body is programmed towards the antigens destruction should it enter the body again.

Best current treatment Because HIV/AIDS can mutate and become immune to treatments at an accelerated pace, most treatments involve a chemical cocktail –47 (give or take) different medications –Not a simple method –This 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 body –Extremely large structures –Designed 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 HIV has been found to cause an associated form of Lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin’s) HIV has been found to cause an associated form of Lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin’s) Treatments pertaining to this include a full irradiation of the body and using a stem cell/bone marrow transplant to help the body recover. Treatments pertaining to this include a full irradiation of the body and using a stem cell/bone marrow transplant to help the body recover. Stem Cells being used in these treatments are Peripheral blood stem cells Stem Cells being used in these treatments are Peripheral blood stem cells Also, studies have shown that some people have a protein aimed towards slowing the spread of HIV, what doctors have begun to do… Also, studies have shown that some people have a protein aimed towards slowing the spread of HIV, what doctors have begun to do…