Existing Medication Shows Promise in Restoring Immune Function in HIV Patients

Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have conducted cell studies indicating that an existing medication can restore immune cell function in individuals with HIV. This finding, published in PLOS Pathogens, suggests a potential improvement in the health of people living with HIV.

"Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have conducted cell studies indicating that an existing medication can restore immune cell function in individuals with HIV."

The Challenge of HIV Persistence

Antiviral treatment for HIV effectively limits the virus in the blood and slows AIDS progression. However, HIV can remain hidden in the body, contributing to premature immune system aging and impairment despite treatment. The Linköping University team investigated how HIV dysregulates the immune system, even when the viral load is suppressed.

Unraveling HIV's Immune Evasion Tactic

In healthy individuals, type I interferon is activated during viral infections, acting as a primary defense and initiating other immune responses. Its levels typically decrease after an infection is resolved.

However, the study revealed a critical difference in HIV-positive individuals.

"However, the study revealed that HIV exploits type I interferon signaling to drive chronic immune activation, even when the virus is controlled by medication."

While type I interferon offers initial protection against HIV infection, chronic activation leads to immune system overactivation, which can facilitate HIV spread. This sustained activation eventually exhausts immune cells, including dendritic cells and T cells.

A Promising Solution Emerges from Cell Studies

Experiments on human cells demonstrated that this chronic interferon activation occurs when dendritic cells and T cells interact.

"The researchers found that treating these cells with an existing medication, anifrolumab, completely restored immune cell function to a state resembling that without HIV."

Anifrolumab: An Existing Treatment with New Potential

Anifrolumab, which blocks type I interferon, is currently used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other research groups have observed decreased HIV-like virus levels and improved health in animals with HIV-like infections treated with anifrolumab or similar substances.

Marie Larsson, professor of virology at Linköping University and lead of the study, highlighted the implications of their findings. She suggested that using this interferon blocker alongside current antiviral treatment could potentially improve the health of individuals with HIV, warranting further investigation.