Scientists Grow CD4 Cells in Lab Setting

For the first time, scientists have been able to grow CD4 cells in the lab, which could open the door to cell infusions for AIDS and cancer patients, Nature Immunology reports. Canadian researchers made the cells from mouse embryonic cells. Lead researcher Juan Carlos Zuniga-Pflucker (pictured) produced the CD4 cells by identifying and producing a molecule called DL1 that is essential in immune cell development, then growing embryonic stem cells on top of the molecule. When implanted into mice, the stem cells began to produce mature CD4 cells. Zuniga-Pflucker hopes to now grow human CD4 cells in the lab, which could be used to replenish depleted immune cell levels in patients with HIV disease and possibly even be genetically engineered to better fight off the virus.