Baboon-Cell Recipient Trying to
Jump-Start His Immune System

Jeff Getty is a 38-year-old California AIDS activist who's been infected with HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, for 15 years. And to him, the risky baboon-cell experiment was better than just waiting: "I know I could die from this treatment," he told the New York Times (see Man Gets Baboon Marrow In Risky AIDS Treatment), "but I am certain I will die if I do nothing."

Baboons can't get AIDS because their immune cells are not susceptible to HIV. The transplant was supposed to give Getty an immune system able to protect against the opportunistic infections which actually kill AIDS patients.

But first the baboon stem cells had to implant themselves in Getty's bone marrow. Once there, they would have to start making the cellular components of the baboon immune system. These cells -- hopefully -- would then protect him against opportunistic infections.

In early February, his doctors reported that Getty's health has improved since the transfusion. But the baboon cells apparently did not implant and start producing the desired immune cells. "The results suggest that this is not working in Jeff," said Dr. Steven Deeks of San Francisco General Hospital. "Jeff's good health cannot be explained by the baboon cells" (see Baboon Cells Fail to Thrive.)

(Added December, 1996): The baboon cells only lasted two weeks, but Getty had his best year in five years. Why? See "Baboon-Cell Transplant Failed..." in the bibliography.

How does the transplant work, and how could it go wrong?