Gene Therapy Shows Promise as Long-lasting Treatment for HIV

Gene therapy could be a key tool in providing a long-lasting and effective treatment for HIV, a virus that leads to AIDS, as per a study conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University.

The study revealed that a specific molecule within HIV can be manipulated to induce long-term dormancy in the virus, preventing it from replicating.

This discovery may aid in the development of gene therapy that enhances the production of this molecule, known as an 'antisense transcript' (AST), explained Fabio Romerio, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Previous research has shown that AST, produced by HIV's genetic material, plays a role in placing the virus in a dormant state, known as viral latency.

Currently, approximately 39.9 million people worldwide are living with HIV, with 630,000 HIV-related deaths occurring annually, according to the World Health Organization.

Standard HIV treatment involves daily antiretroviral therapy to prevent the virus from replicating and spreading. However, gene therapy could offer a more sustainable solution with potentially fewer side effects, requiring only a single dose.

Even with prolonged antiretroviral therapy, HIV can persist in the body's cells and tissues, posing a risk of rapid spread if treatment is discontinued, Romerio highlighted.

Rui Li, a postdoctoral fellow in Romerio's lab and the lead author of the study published in Science Advances, emphasized the goal of finding a lasting treatment for HIV.

The study's results suggest that gene therapies could enhance AST production in HIV-infected T cells, inducing long-term dormancy in the virus.

Scientists investigated the role of AST in viral dormancy by genetically modifying HIV-infected CD4+T cells to increase AST production. They also studied AST in CD4+T cells from 15 individuals with HIV, observing viral dormancy for four days before the AST-expressing DNA degraded.