| abstract |
"DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH TIMO REACTIVATION". The present disclosure relates to methods for gene therapy using hematopoietic stem cells, lymphoid progenitor cells and / or myeloid progenitor cells. Cells are genetically engineered to provide a gene that is expressed in these cells and their progeny after differentiation. In a preferred embodiment the cells contain a gene or gene fragment that gives cells resistance to HIV infection and / or replication. The cells are administered to a patient in combination with treatment to reactivate the patient's thymus. The cells may be autologous, syngeneic, allogeneic or xenogeneic as a tolerance to foreign cells is created in the patient during thymus reactivation. In a preferred embodiment the hematopoietic stem cells are CD34 +. The patient's thymus is reactivated by interrupting sexual steroid-mediated signaling to the thymus. In a preferred embodiment, this interruption is created by administration of LHRH agonists, LHRH antagonists, anti-LHRH receptor antibodies, anti-LHRH vaccines, or combinations thereof. |