UCLA researchers are using stem cells and gene therapy to reverse the effects of HIV. The treatment utilizes stem cells to carry the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) genes that have been successfully used to treat leukemia and are being explored for other cancers. The modified stem cells can trigger the immune system to specifically target and destroy HIV infected cells without harming nearby healthy cells. The stem cells carrying the gene are able to directly interrupt the mechanism between the virus and body cell surface receptors that allow the virus to infect the cells by binding to the virus and destroying it.
