The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund

Tulane University

Stephen E Braun

Bruce Alan Bunnell

Eckhard Alt

Reza Izadpanah

Narae Lee

Debasis Mondal

Bruce A Bunnel

Bruce A Bunnell

A composition of matter and method of treating HIV with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is disclosed. Specifically, MSCs are transduced with vectors incorporating an anti-viral fusion inhibitor, such as a C46-derived peptide or neutralizing antibody. The transduced MSCs are capable of expression the inhibitor and preventing HIV virus-cell fusion.

Expression of HIV inhibitors by mesenchymal stem cells

A method of curing (or at least treating) HIV, by obtaining small tissue mesenchymal stem cells (stMSC) from adipose tissue of a patient with HIV or from a syngeneic donor or an immuno-compatible donor, wherein said stMSC are i) 4-6 &#x3bc;m in diameter, ii) pluripotent, and iii) have CD11b, CD34, CD45, CD 29, CD 49, Oct 4 and SSEA 4 surface markers when harvested. Preferred sources are autologous adipose tissue. Next those stMSCs are gene edited to provide CCR5stMSCs and optionally amplified by growth in culture and/or by cell selection for gene edited stMSCs and then re-introducing into the patient. Preferably, the CCR5stMSCs will re-populate the patient with stem cells that can no longer act as latent HIV reservoirs and can differentiate into immune cells that are HIV resistant. If desired, the patient can be first treated, e.g., by radiation, to destroy the bone marrow cells before the re-introduction. However, this may not be necessary for patient who already has significant destruction of immunity by HIV.

Small tissue CCR5MSCs for treatment of HIV

Growing community of inventors

New Orleans, LA, United States of America

Stephen E Braun