Can stem cells be used for curing AIDS?

I dont know a whole lot about AIDS and how it works, but I would think that there is a chance, at least theoretically.

I just had a stem cell transplant for my leukemia. With the stem cell transplant, your entire immune system is literally killed before they add the new cells. If you were to go through the chemo and rad and never get the new cells, you would either die or be completly dependant on daily blood product transfusions.

Anyways, one the things the docs watched and were concerend about was cmv. Cmv is a virus that most ppl get as a child. It generally acts like a common cold, so most ppl dont realize that they have an actual viral infection. But, with someone who has just had a transplant and is on immuno suppression drugs, the virus con potentially be lethal.

Before my tranplant, I tested pos for cmv antibodies, which means I had the virus at some point. But my donor was neg, and after transplant, I am negative.

I was also pos for hsv1 (cold sores version) and am now negative. If the transplant can rid my body of these viruses, why is it not possible that it can rid the body of AIDS, or any other virus?

Also, since the transplant is replacing the immune system, patients have the possibility of being cured from allergies, ms, alzheimers, and basically any auto immune disease.

no. AIDS is a virus and we need to have something can resist that virus. something that would immediately kill anyhting bad that entered the body. plus viruses are always changing so we cant make a vaccine or anything.

hmm, good question. i haven't heard anyone talking about the use of stem cells for aids... but hey, they could be the solution we're looking for!

proably.... bc....
they say that they can be used for anything..(mostly)...
but we still havent found the cure for AIDS.....
hopefully we will someday!!!

when i was in Australia, i watched this program on how they work and I'm pretty sure it works but they just need more time to test it although the results were satisfactory.

well there's no way of knowing 4 shure But it s a verygood chance it can. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO stemsells

Very good question. I dont think they could be. The affected cells would take over the new cells formed from the stem cells and infect them. I'm not a doctor or a scientist, but I dont think it would work. When a patient is diagnosed as HIV positive, there are too many cells floating around with the virus in them. They attack the cells DNA.