HIV Cure Following CCR5 Δ32 Stem Cell Transplantation – An Update

An HIV-infected patient underwent stem cell transplantation in Germany with a graft containing CCR5Δ32/Δ32 cells in February 2007 because of a relapse of acute myeloid leukemia. Antiretroviral therapy was discontinued on the day of transplantation. The patient had a second relapse 13 months later and received a second stem cell transplant from the same donor. Replacement of host stem cells with donor-derived cells homozygous for the CCR5 gene variant Δ32 (CCR5Δ32/Δ32) apparently resulted in the HIV viral reservoir being reduced over time, strongly suggesting that the patient was cured of HIV (Hutter, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:692-8).