New discovery has revealed how HIV spreads throughout the human body in relation to the levels cholesterol which may help experts in monitoring some patients. Meanwhile, the "Berlin Patient" marked his seventh year anniversary from being cured of HIV.

HIV Related to Cholesterol Levels

A new discovery at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health revealed HIV moves slower in people with immune cells that have low cholesterol levels. It suggested patients with HIV could live longer if cholesterol metabolism in their immune cells is regulated according to Giovanna Rappocciolo, lead author of the study.

"We think it's important because it's a very new approach to the study of the HIV infection. I think it could be significant," Rappocciolo said as quoted by TribLive.

Also, Rappocciolo's study pointed out those HIV-infected individuals may stay healthy for 7 years or longer without having conventional therapies if cholesterol levels are low. But it does not guarantee that HIV patients with low cholesterol diets are protected against the virus.

"I don't want people to start thinking that if they have low blood cholesterol that they're protected from infection," Rappocciolo stressed.

At this point, it is not clear if doctors can manipulate cholesterol levels in immune cells to deliver positive benefits for patients. But Pittsburgh researchers are now investigating possible genetic methods to reduce cellular cholesterol levels in some patients.

Berlin Patient's 7th Year

Timothy Ray Brown or the famous "Berlin Patient" marked his seventh year freedom from HIV and shared his story at a community forum on April 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center's Cassidy Auditorium.

He started taking antiretroviral medication after his diagnosis in 1995 then was later told by German doctors that he also had acute myeloid leukemia in 2006. To survive the blood cancer, a bone marrow transplant must be performed. But incidents of bias increased the difficulty of finding a doctor who would save his life.

"I was afraid of stigma, because that's a big cause of suicide among people of have HIV, but I didn't feel suicidal at all. I didn't want to deal with people in the hospital judging me. My partner overheard nurses saying 'Be careful of that patient, he's got AIDS' really loud," Brown said as quoted by Windy City.

His apparent cure of HIV and blood cancer was due to a bone marrow transplant donor having CCR5 delta genetic mutation that leads his body to resist HIV leftovers. CCR5 delta genetic mutation makes HIV unable to attach itself from immune cells, allowing the immune system to fight off the invasion.

Due to his miraculous cure, experts are now looking into every single possibility to create an effective treatment based on CCR5 delta to help other HIV patients without undergoing bone marrow transplant.