Einstein researchers genetically engineer immune cells into potent weapons for ba...( known as peptides are displayed on the ...),Health
, known as peptides, are displayed on the surface of the infected cellthe cells way of signaling the immune system that it is infected. Detecting virus-infected cells so they can then be eliminated is the job of CTLs and the protein molecules, known as T-cell receptors, that jut from their surface.
If a CTLs T-cell receptor has the right amino acid sequence, it will recognize the HIV peptide on the infected cell as foreign--prompting the CTL to multiply and attack the infected cell. But all too often, this battle between activated CTLs and HIV-infected cells ends badly. Why, then, are super CTLs of elite controllers so effective in killing HIV-infected cells"
The explanation, the Einstein researchers postulated, is that these CTLs express T-cell receptors that either have a knack for recognizing viral peptides that tend not to mutate, or they bind extremely tightly to HIV-infected cells, enabling the elite controllers to keep their HIV infections under control.
A CTLs T-cell receptor, which is as unique for each CTL as a persons fingerprint, consists of two chains, alpha and beta. To obtain the blueprint for making exceptionally potent HIV-specific T-cell receptors, the researchers isolated the genes that code for each of the two chains from the potent HIV-specific CTL. Then, as a way to efficiently insert both genes into nave CTLs (from people not infected with HIV), they developed an efficient delivery system in which the genes were combined and packaged inside a special type of virus, called a lentivirus. The lentiviruses then inserted these genes into the chromosomes of nave CTLs obtained from a nave donors blood and reprogrammed them into potent HIV-specific CTLs.
We demonstrated that these genetically reprogrammed CTLs have very strong activity in terms of killing HIV-infected cells in both test tubes and an animal model, says Dr. Goldstein. In some of the animal studies, for example, the researchers injected mice with both HIV-
'/>"/>
| Contact: Karen Gardner kgardner@aecom.yu.edu 718-430-3101 Albert Einstein College of Medicine Source:Eurekalert |
Related medicine news :
1. Einstein researchers discover gene mutations linked to longer lifespans
2. Einstein honors Dr. Stanley Nathenson with Marshall S. Horwitz Faculty Prize for Research Excellence
3. Johnson City Medical Center Begins Offering Einstein Bros. Menu Items at Second On Campus Location
4. Sens. Kerry, Boxer and Feinstein call on FDA to Establish Maximum Level for Lead in Lipstick
5. Testing delays cause severe AIDS complications, Einstein researchers find
6. Einstein scientists treat cancer as an infectious disease -- with promising results
7. Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Turns to InterviewDirect to Qualify Job Candidates
8. NIH awards Einstein multimillion dollar grant to extend studies of exceptional longevity
9. Researchers control growth rate of replacement blood vessels, tissues
10. New protein discovery helps researchers understand autoimmune diseases
11. UF researchers warn parents about dangers of childhood foot burns
| Copyright © 2003-2009 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |