- SAN DIEGO (UPI) -
A novel filtration process designed to remove the AIDS virus from human
blood has shown excellent promise in a series of pre-clinical trials, according
to researchers at Aethlon Medical, an early stage biotechnology firm in
La Jolla, Calif.
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- Trials of the filtration system, aptly named the HIV-Hemopurifier,
began in February of this year according to Richard Tullis, Aethlon's chief
project researcher. The HIV-Hemopurifier method is based on kidney dialysis,
Tullis told United Press International.
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- "We use the same hollow-fiber cartridge used for
kidney dialysis," Tullis said. "The cartridge contains hair-like
fibers with pores that trap particles larger than the virus. Smaller particles
pass through the pores and circulate over polysaccharide beads coated with
antibodies. These antibodies are specific for Gp120, a surface protein
on the AIDS virus. The virus sticks to the antibody-coated beads, allowing
uncontaminated material to flow through the filters and back into the blood
stream."
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- In essence, Tullis said, the system filters out AIDS
virus in much the same way a water filtration system removes lead and other
impurities from drinking water. In the Hemopurifier case, Tullis removed
HIV from several 10 milliliter samples of contaminated blood plasma.
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- The filter's inventor, Dr. Julian Ambrus, emphasized
the system is designed to work in tandem with other treatment modalities,
such as anti-viral cocktails and AZT.
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- "This is not a stand-alone treatment model,"
Ambrus told UPI. "We designed it specifically as one in a series of
treatments that reduces the physical amount of HIV virus in blood and tissue."
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- One such treatment is the use of cytokines -- immune
system hormones -- that encourage cells to push the virus out of tissues
and into the bloodstream, where it comes in contact with the filtration
system. HIV is notorious for hiding in tissue, but once it is forced into
blood, it can be filtered out, Ambrus said.
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- "This filtration process may also have application
to removal of hepatitis C virus and heavy metals such as lead and platinum,
a major cause of side effects in chemotherapy," Ambrus, an associate
professor of medicine at SUNY in Buffalo, N.Y, explained.
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- Dr. Anil Kumar, a virologist and cellular immunologist
at the University of Kansas Medical Center, told UPI the HIV-Hemopurifier
process is both unique and interesting.
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- "I have not heard of this sort of approach before,
and I do believe their proposal is sound," Kumar said from his office
in Kansas City. "However, I would caution that this is a whole body
removal process, and with just a few milliliters of plasma tested it is
far too early to say how well it will work."
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- University of Maryland chemistry professor Michael Summers,
an expert in HIV protein structure, also finds the filtration approach
unique. "It's very novel," Summers told UPI from Baltimore. "And
it is conceivable that this process could limit the spread of HIV throughout
the body, especially if it is used along with the current repertoire of
HIV inhibitors."
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- Gp120 is a protein that projects like little studs from
the surface of the HIV virus, Summers explained. It specifically interacts
with cd-4 receptors on human cells. Cells without cd-4 cannot be infected
with AIDS, Summers said.
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- "So the idea of a filtration process that actually
competes with cd-4 by binding to the Gp120 proteins is perfectly reasonable
and workable," Summers concluded.
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- Virologist Ravi Pottathil, president of Accudx Diagnostics,
a San Diego firm supplying HIV diagnostic kits, told UPI the Aethlon filtration
process is so simple others probably thought about it but passed it by.
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- "Everyone wants to create the one and only solution
to a problem," Pottathil said. "The beauty of Aethlon's approach
lies in being a part of the solution."
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- Pottathil predicts the HIV-Hemopurifier will have no
side effects and will be relatively easy to use. He also appreciates the
sound science behind the system.
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- "It is a very simple concept, not some crazy approach
without scientific basis," Pottathil said. "Using antibodies
like Gp120 and others to bind to different active sites on HIV is a common
way to inhibit viral entry into cells. Aethlon is now saying it is a good
way to selectively filter the virus out of the blood. They are not trying
some new, unknown procedure.
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- Rather, they are using an established procedure in an
entirely new way."
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- Reported by UPI Science Correspondent Mike Martin in
Washington. Copyright 2001 by United Press International. All rights reserved.
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