If aids destroys t-4 cells, why cant we just use stem cells to replicate as t-4 cells and fight back?!
Question: If aids destroys t-4 cells, why cant we just use stem cells to replicate as t-4 cells and fight back.?
this is a question thats been bothering me for some time now. they dont teach this stuff at 9nth gradeHealth Question & Answer
Answers:
because the virus will detroy those cells faster than you can put new ones in.
the half - life of an HIV-infected helper cell (also called a T4 cell or CD4 cell) is only 1.6 days. That means that if you WERE able to have a bag full of helper cells, and transfuse them into the blood stream, and gave a million of them today, then in 1.6 days, there would only be 1/2 million remaining. And by a week, 95% of those cells would be destroyed.
of course the other problem is that we just don't have the capability to manufacture helper cells anyway.
if, instead, we could infuse stem cells, and somehow tell them to make helper cells, it would not change the problem -- that any new cells in the body would be infected as quickly as they can be made.
remember, the HIV virus on average makes 10 BILLION new copies of virus a day -- that's much more than the number of new helper cells that you would be able to generate
That's a very clever question, though -- I think I see a future PhD virologist here !!!Health Question & Answer
the half - life of an HIV-infected helper cell (also called a T4 cell or CD4 cell) is only 1.6 days. That means that if you WERE able to have a bag full of helper cells, and transfuse them into the blood stream, and gave a million of them today, then in 1.6 days, there would only be 1/2 million remaining. And by a week, 95% of those cells would be destroyed.
of course the other problem is that we just don't have the capability to manufacture helper cells anyway.
if, instead, we could infuse stem cells, and somehow tell them to make helper cells, it would not change the problem -- that any new cells in the body would be infected as quickly as they can be made.
remember, the HIV virus on average makes 10 BILLION new copies of virus a day -- that's much more than the number of new helper cells that you would be able to generate
That's a very clever question, though -- I think I see a future PhD virologist here !!!Health Question & Answer
That is a good question!
In order for that to work, ALL of the t-4 cells would have to be removed from the body, which is impossible. If we could do that we could then put new stem cells back in, and be cured.
You're very smart (9th grade you said.?)! That's the type of question a college student would ask. Keep asking those questions, you don't know unless you do!Health Question & Answer
In order for that to work, ALL of the t-4 cells would have to be removed from the body, which is impossible. If we could do that we could then put new stem cells back in, and be cured.
You're very smart (9th grade you said.?)! That's the type of question a college student would ask. Keep asking those questions, you don't know unless you do!Health Question & Answer
Because the tcells are tricked. All TCells are tricked, regardless of their source. However, there has been a recent breakthrough in AIDS and stopping their food source, I believe. Anyway, it is showing promise.Health Question & Answer