A team led by Professor Huo Wenzhe at the Animal Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory（ABSL-Ⅲ laboratory）of Wuhan University and professor Hou Wei at Wuhan University’s School of Basic Medical Sciences have discovered a T lymphocytes expressing CD56 cell that can fight HIV. Their research was published in the August issue of the American journal Lymphocyte Biology.
According to Hou Wei, the newly discovered cell is a “bridge cell.” It is an integral part of human natural immune system and has both an attack function and a defensive protection function.
The team, after three years of research, report that secretions from their cell culture restrain the infection and replication of HIV. In the process, the team also found that the secretions can enhance the activity of interferon regulatory factor, which activate macrophages to fight HIV. Furthermore, the T lymphocytes expressing CD56 cell can increase the anti-HIV cytokines inside the cell.
