A European scientist working with samples of Ebola-infected patients' blood, from Conakry, Guinea, has shown that those who died from the Ebola virus expressed the protein CTLA-4 in high amounts -- not entirely unlike patients who are most at mortality risk -- from melanoma.
So, it would stand to reason that a biologic, like Yervoy® (the BMS brand name for ipilimumab) -- which takes the brakes off of our immune system, to help fight some cancers -- at the CTLA-4 protein site, might be of use -- in combating acute cases of Ebola. Since Yervoy is already FDA approved, the path through animal models, and then Phase II/III studies could be expedited. But any therapy (in Africa) will have to address the economics of delivering it, as well.
Just the same, here's a bit from The Guardian last week, in London (and a link to purchase the article published in the journal Nature) -- but do go read The Guardian article, in full:
. . . .Scientists have identified a key feature in the human immune system that determines whether someone will live or die from Ebola. . . .
A study of blood taken four days after the onset of symptoms in 157 patients in Conakry, Guinea, showed that a significantly high level of a protein known as CTLA-4 - which acts as a brake on the immune system response mounted by the body during an acute infection - indicated that a patient would not survive.
The research, published in the journal Nature, found that Ebola survivors had much lower levels of CTLA-4 and generated an Ebola-specific T cell response. . . .
A very long road yet to travel, from Phase I to a working, economically sustainable therapy in humans, but this is quite exciting -- and welcome news. Onward, on a joyous Mother's Day -- with love, to one and all!
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