The third case of AIDS cure? Expert: Long-term observation is needed
After "Berlin Patient" and "London Patient", "St. Paul Patient" may become the third case of AIDS cure in the world.
On July 7, Science website news channel reported the treatment experience of this 36-year-old AIDS male patient from São Paulo, Brazil. The patient used antiretroviral therapy combined with nicotinamide (a vitamin B3). Since 66 weeks after the drug was stopped, no HIV virus has been detected in his blood, and the antibody concentration in the blood is also very low.
Worth paying attention to 66 weeks of withdrawal without rebound
"If it is really as reported in the relevant report,'São Paulo's patients" did not rebound within 66 weeks after drug withdrawal, it is indeed a matter of concern." July 9th, Zhang Linqi, director of the Tsinghua University AIDS Comprehensive Research Center, accepted the technology A daily reporter said in an interview that in the past, most patients who were treated with antiretroviral drugs usually recovered their HIV virus to a high level within a few weeks of stopping the drug.
Antiretroviral therapy is also called "cocktail therapy", just like a variety of wines or drinks mixed into a cocktail, this therapy is also commonly used in combination with several (about 3) antiretroviral drugs, the key to HIV virus replication The node plays an inhibitory role and is widely used in the field of AIDS treatment.
The researchers added two antiretroviral drugs on the basis of the conventional three-drug treatment plan, hoping that this "intensified" treatment method can eliminate the hidden "dead corner" of conventional antiretroviral therapy HIV virus.
In addition, the HIV virus is difficult because it can "weave" genetic material on the human chromosomes and enter a dormant state to form a latent pool, thereby evading surveillance by the immune system and attacks by antiretroviral drugs. The researchers used nicotinamide to "wake up" HIV latent cells again, so that the enhanced version of "cocktail therapy" discovered the traces of HIV virus and destroyed the virus in one fell swoop, thus providing the possibility of curing AIDS.
If proved effective, "São Paulo patient" treatment plan is universal
"Of course, whether the'São Paulo patient' treatment plan can really cure AIDS will require longer observation and more similar case support." Zhang Linqi said.
According to related reports, the description of "discontinuation" is a "São Paulo patient" self-report, and its authenticity remains to be verified. Even if the self-reported drug withdrawal content is true and reliable, the HIV virus may make a comeback in the near future. Previously, a baby in Mississippi began antiretroviral therapy shortly after birth. The HIV test was negative within 27 months after the drug was stopped and was considered a "functional cure." However, the virus suddenly reappeared 2 years later. .
In addition, out of a total of 5 patients who received the same treatment, only the "São Paulo patients" showed the current positive effect, and the other 4 patients quickly relapsed after stopping the drug. Therefore, at this stage, "São Paulo patients" are only isolated cases, and it is not known whether they can be copied, and more enrolled patients are needed for further clinical verification.
The cunning abnormality of the HIV virus has made relevant researchers more cautious in drawing conclusions. This "São Paulo patient" has caused widespread academic attention. In addition to providing new attempts to cure AIDS, it also lies in the potential broad application prospects of this therapy.
Zhang Linqi pointed out that if the method is finally proved to be true and effective, the universality and popularization of "São Paulo patient" therapy will be much greater than the previous two cases of AIDS cure.
The first two lucky cases, namely the "Berlin Patient" and "London Patient", which are well known in the academic world, have very similar treatment methods, but they are difficult to promote. Both use bone marrow stem cell transplantation, and bone marrow donors carry mutations in the CCR5 gene, which is believed to effectively block HIV invasion. However, the number of people carrying mutations in the CCR5 gene is already very small, and bone marrow matching is also a challenge. The bone marrow transplantation technology itself is also very demanding. Follow-up treatments related to rejection should also be considered. The cost is too high for ordinary people. .
"Patients of St. Paul" are different. Zhang Linqi pointed out that the patient was treated with drugs, and it was not too difficult in terms of drug accessibility and treatment technology itself. If the follow-up is really proven effective, it will bring hope to more ordinary AIDS patients. Compared with the first two cases of cure, its promotion is called "the difference between the world".