Researchers from the National Cancer Institute, led by Stephen O’Brien, now believe that an individual’s DNA may hold the key to the time interval when HIV develops into the destructive form of AIDS. Researchers investigated data collected from long-term studies within the 80s and 90s of HIV infected people to establish a link between the timing of the emergence of AIDS and their genetic details. They found that the period of time before a subject developed AIDS appeared to be controlled by the DNA contained within mitochondria. Results revealed that subjects with mitochondrial DNA containing specific sets of variations known as U5a1 and J haplogroups (combinations of alleles) developed AIDS twice as quickly, on average, whereas variation H3 haplogroup caused subjects to develop AIDS twice as slowly.
Figure 1: Focusing on mitochondrial DNA
The virus HIV/AIDS advances through the body by encouraging immune cells to suicide by triggering apoptosis. Once the immune cells are removed HIV/AIDS can progress throughout the body. Researchers discovered that HIV/AIDs was able to trigger apoptosis more easily in subjects whose mitochondria generated less energy than normal. Sher Hendrickson, a team member, says that “having less energy available seems to exacerbate the effects of the disease”. This suggests that the U5a1 and J haplogroups were responsible for the lack of energy within mitochondria; causing a faster rate of AIDS progression within subjects. Further research into this field can allow for a more individualised treatment program for patients, utilising only essential drugs.
Reference:
Robson, D. 2008, ‘Human DNA may set off AIDS timebomb’, New Scientist,[Available] http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026864.800-human-dna-may-set-off-aids-timebomb.html , issue 2686, 14 December, (accessed 21/3/09)
