X-Message-Number: 31168
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:40:07 -0700
From: hkhenson <>
Subject: New drug



http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16035-elixir-of-youth-drug-could-fight-hiv-and-ageing.html


"It is beginning to look like telomerase is doing more than just 
keeping telomeres from getting too short," says Effros. "It seems to 
be mediating some anti-viral mechanisms as well."

Interestingly, a previous study suggested that people with HIV who 
control the infection for many years without developing AIDS, have 
killer T-cells with high telomerase activity and longer telomeres.

Ultimately, Effros hopes that TAT2 could be used to supplement 
existing anti-retroviral drugs, by boosting the immune systems of 
people with HIV.

Aubrey de Grey of the 
<http://www.methuselahfoundation.org/>Methuselah Foundation, which 
promotes research into lifespan extension, says the study is a big 
step forward.

"It is what we would have hoped," he says. "We've thought for some 
time that, by activating telomerase in these cells, we could extend 
their proliferative capacity. What was completely unclear was whether 
that would [have negative side effects]. These cells become fully 
functional as a result of the restoration of their proliferative capacity."

(considerably more)

Keith 

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