HHV-6B DNA has been found hiding inside the telomeres of clinical-grade stem cells intended for human therapy.
Mesenchymal stromal cells are the gold standard for many advanced medical treatments because they can repair damaged tissue. This common human virus actually integrates its own genetic code directly into chromosome 19 of these therapeutic cells. No one had ever checked these specific clinical-grade batches for viral stowaways before this discovery. This means patients receiving life-saving stem cell transplants might be accidentally injected with a dormant virus. We now have to rewrite the safety protocols for every cell-based medicine currently in development.
First identification of HHV-6 in mesenchymal stromal cells raises safety considerations for cell therapy
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Abstract Background: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are increasingly applied in the treatment of graft-versus-host disease, autoimmune disorders, and severe inflammatory conditions, frequently in patients with impaired immune function, where viral safety is a critical concern. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is distinctive in that it is widespread in the general population and has been implicated in disorders that overlap with common MSC therapeutic indications, where immunosuppression or inf