CCR5 Delta 32 mutation
26-08-2023
02:02 PM
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Overview:
Recently, the man referred to as the "Dusseldorf patient" became at least the third person to have been “cured of HIV” after a bone marrow transplant carrying a specific HIV-resistant mutation.
About CCR5 Delta 32:
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What is it? Cysteine-cysteine chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a protein on the surface of white blood cells that are involved in the immune system as it acts as a receptor for chemokines.
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CCR5 is found in the cell membranes of many types of mammalian cells, including nerve cells and white blood cells.
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In humans, the CCR5 gene that encodes the CCR5 protein is located on the short (p) arm at position 21 on chromosome 3.
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Role of CCR5: The role of CCR5 is to allow entry of chemokines into the cell—chemokines are involved in signalling the body’s inflammation response to injuries.
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How does the mutation work in HIV patients?
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Various mutations of the CCR5 gene are known that result in damage to the expressed receptor.
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One of the mutant forms of the gene is CCR5-delta 32, which results from the deletion of a particular sequence of 32 base pairs.
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HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) mainly attacks the CD4 immune cells in the human body, thereby reducing a person’s ability to fight off secondary infections.
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The CCR5 receptors on the surface of the CD4 immune cells act as a doorway for HIV. However, the CCR5-delta 32 mutation prevents these receptors used by the HIV from forming on the surface, effectively removing the doorway.
Q1) What are CD4 cells?
CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell or"helper T cells because they help fight infection by triggering your immune system to destroy viruses, bacteria, and other germs that may make people sick.
Source: Third patient is cured of HIV: How did this happen and what are its implications?