A Berlin patient is one of the few in the world to be completely cured of HIV – and without the genetic resistance that was previously considered necessary. The Charité sees this case as a real turning point for HIV therapy. In addition to HIV,the 60-year-old also defeated blood cancer.
new momentum in HIV research
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Previously, a stem cell donation with genetically HIV-resistant cells was mandatory for a cure for HIV.These cells prevent the virus from infecting new immune cells. But only about one percent of Europeans carry this genetic variant. The Berlin patient’s donor did not have this resistance – her cells were even infectable.
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Nevertheless, the man remained permanently HIV-free after the transplant. The Charité published a study in the magazine “Nature” that now explains why this is possible. Antibodies marked infected cells in the patient’s blood. This marking attracted so-called “natural killer cells,” which specifically destroyed the affected cells.
HIV: A new concept of cure
Researchers call this process ADCC – antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The intense immune reaction could be the real reason for the healing. Christian Gaebler from the Charité says: “So far the focus has been on the resistant transplant. Now it is shown that a sensitive immune system can also be prosperous.”
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These findings are of great importance for HIV treatment: They show that even without genetic resistance, a targeted immune reaction can defeat the virus.Initial studies are testing whether such antibodies can be administered in a targeted manner.In around 20 percent of cases, they control the virus permanently – without daily medication. In the long term, researchers could genetically modify immune cells so that they specifically combat HIV.
Breakthrough in HIV Research: Man Achieves Long-Term Remission with Standard Transplant
A 60-year-old man has achieved long-term remission from HIV following a stem cell transplant to treat blood cancer, marking a meaningful turning point in HIV therapy. Researchers at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, detail the case in a study published in Nature, demonstrating that a strong immune response, rather than solely genetic resistance, can lead to viral control.
previously, successful HIV cures were largely attributed to stem cell transplants from donors possessing a rare genetic mutation (CCR5 delta 32) that confers resistance to HIV infection. This mutation is present in only about one percent of Europeans. Notably, the donor for this patient did not have this genetic resistance; thier cells were actually susceptible to HIV infection.
Despite this, the patient remained HIV-free after the transplant. The Charité study reveals the mechanism behind this success: the patient’s immune system, following the transplant, developed antibodies that flagged HIV-infected cells for destruction. These marked cells then attracted “natural killer cells,” which eliminated them through a process called antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
“So far the focus has been on the resistant transplant. Now it is shown that a sensitive immune system can also be successful,” explains Christian gaebler of the Charité.
This finding is crucial for HIV treatment development.It demonstrates that a targeted immune response can effectively control the virus even in the absence of genetic resistance. Early trials are underway to explore the potential of administering these antibodies directly to patients. Initial results show that, in approximately 20 percent of cases, this approach can achieve sustained viral control without the need for daily medication.Looking further ahead, researchers are investigating the possibility of genetically modifying immune cells to specifically target and combat HIV.
This case offers renewed hope for a functional cure for HIV, expanding the potential treatment options beyond those reliant on the rare CCR5 delta 32 genetic mutation.
This article was partly created with computer assistance and was carefully checked by the editorial team before publication.
