AIDS Researcher Outlines New Concept of Selectively Boosting Immune System

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

AIDS Researcher Outlines New Concept of Selectively Boosting Immune System

Wall Street Journal (06/08/93), P. B6 (Chase, Marilyn)

AIDS researchers should focus on new drugs that would selectively strengthen the beneficial cells in the immune system, while thwarting those that deplete the immune system, according to U.S. AIDS researcher Anthony S. Fauci. It is known that HIV causes the demise of the immune system. However, HIV may also incite hyperactive or so-called autoimmune reactions, in which the body's defense system attacks itself. Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said yesterday at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS, "Immune responses are part of a vigorous defense against AIDS, but they can also enhance AIDS." He urged scientists to research new immune system-modulators that exploit recent discoveries about the mysterious phases of AIDS's destruction of the body, including findings on how HIV replicates in the lymph nodes. In order to strengthen the good defenses of the immune system, Fauci said he is testing the immune boosting protein IL-2, currently sold by Cetus Corp. for kidney cancer. IL-2 was found to boost levels of T-cells when taken in combination with an antiviral drug in an eight-patient pilot study, said Fauci. In addition, Fauci said he is eager to seek drugs that block certain natural proteins believed to have a role in accelerating virus production, as a way to halt the potentially self-destructive powers of the immune system.

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