Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, has been a daunting health crisis since the 1980s. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has made incredible progress in controlling HIV, it is not a cure for the virus.

HIV infects immune system cells, specifically CD4 cells, which help the immune system fight infections. When left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS.

The Immune System and HIV

Our immune system has many ways to respond to infections, but sometimes pathogens can evade these responses.

That is precisely what HIV does – it infects CD4 cells and disrupts the immune system’s ability to mount a response against the virus.

Enter ART. These drugs work by inhibiting the enzymes the virus needs to replicate, limiting the virus’s ability to grow and spread. In a way, ART allows the immune system a better chance to control viral replication by providing it a helping hand.

HIV has evolved ways to hide from the immune system by remaining dormant, or in a state known as “latent.” With ART, latent HIV can still be present in a person’s body and can rebound if the drugs are stopped.

This is known as viral rebound and is a concern when considering a potential cure for HIV.

Challenges to Achieving an HIV Cure

Curing a viral infection requires a few things. First, we need to know where the virus is hiding. Second, we need to be able to target and eliminate the virus without harming any of our healthy cells.

Third, we need to do this in such a way that our immune system can clear any remaining traces of the virus on its own. Finally, we need to ensure the virus does not return.

For HIV, the task of achieving a cure is complicated.

HIV lies dormant in a small number of immune cells that become “exhausted,” a kind of suspended animation where the immune system cannot recognize the virus and it can’t be eradicated by the anti-viral drugs. The HIV genome can integrate itself into our DNA, which makes it difficult to entirely remove from the body. With this viral reservoir, the immune system needs a boost to clear the remaining virus.

The Promise of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is an exciting approach that uses our immune system to treat diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.

The goal of immunotherapy is to enhance the body’s natural immune responses to better recognize and eliminate harmful pathogens, such as HIV.

Immunotherapy also has the potential to eliminate the viral reservoir that occurs in HIV patients.

One of the most promising approaches is to use “checkpoint inhibitors,” which remove the brakes the immune system has put on itself, allowing immune cells to become more active against the virus.

Other immunotherapies seek to improve the immune system by training it to catch and fight HIV better. Researchers are looking at ways to use the immune system more intelligently by developing HIV-specific T cells and antibodies.

Enhancing the Immune System with Vitamin C

Another potential therapy to boost the immune system against HIV is through vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that the body needs to maintain a healthy immune system.

While the research on vitamin C’s effect on immune function is not conclusive, some studies support the idea that vitamin C enhances certain white blood cells’ function and may help reduce inflammation.

One study found that vitamin C increased the production of interferon, a molecule that signals the immune system to fight infections, including HIV.

The study suggests that vitamin C may enhance the immune system’s ability to combat infection, including by improving the function of memory T cells specific for HIV.

The Future of HIV Treatment

The quest for an HIV cure remains a top priority for researchers worldwide. While ART has been hugely successful in extending the lives of people living with HIV, it is not a cure.

HIV remains present in the body, and without continued treatment, it can rebound and cause further damage.

Research into novel approaches, such as immunotherapy and antioxidant therapies, has shown great promise in enhancing the immune system’s ability to fight HIV and potentially eradicate the virus entirely.

For those living with HIV, these therapies offer hope for a future where they can put the virus behind them.

Conclusion

The immune system plays an essential role in the body’s fight against HIV. HIV’s ability to remain dormant and evade the immune system’s response has been a significant challenge to developing a cure.

Emerging therapies, like immunotherapy and antioxidant therapies, offer new hope for managing HIV and eradicating the virus in the future.