Como atua a medicação para o HIV? | Mecanismo de ação dos antirretrovirais | AIDS | Profilaxia

Summary

In this video, Professor Vittor Proença explains the various classes of antiretroviral medications used in HIV and AIDS treatment. He outlines how these drugs work by inhibiting the virus at different stages of its life cycle, including preventing viral entry into cells, reverse transcription, integration into the host DNA, and viral replication. The video also touches on the use of combination therapies and the importance of early treatment to suppress viral replication and manage the condition. Professor Proença also discusses some of the latest advancements in HIV medication and the ongoing research into possible cures.

Takeaways

• 😀 Antiretroviral medications help prevent the HIV virus from entering and replicating inside human cells, particularly T lymphocytes (CD4 positive).
• 😀 These medications target different stages of the HIV lifecycle, including fusion, entry, reverse transcription, integration, and protein production.
• 😀 Antiretroviral therapy (ART) usually involves a combination of three different classes of drugs to increase effectiveness and reduce the chances of resistance.
• 😀 The key classes of antiretroviral drugs include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), fusion inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and entry inhibitors (CCR5 antagonists).
• 😀 The drugs act on the virus to block specific enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase, which are essential for the virus to replicate.
• 😀 Reverse transcriptase inhibitors block the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase, preventing the conversion of viral RNA into DNA, which is necessary for integration into the host's genetic material.
• 😀 Protease inhibitors stop the viral enzyme protease, which is responsible for assembling new viral particles inside infected cells.
• 😀 Fusion inhibitors prevent the HIV virus from fusing with the human cell membrane, effectively stopping its entry into the cell.
• 😀 Entry inhibitors block the CCR5 receptor on the surface of immune cells, preventing HIV from entering the cell and initiating infection.
• 😀 Successful antiretroviral therapy reduces the viral load to undetectable levels, but it doesn't cure HIV. It manages the virus and helps patients live longer, healthier lives, often preventing the progression to AIDS.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of antiretroviral drugs?

Antiretroviral drugs are primarily used to treat HIV and AIDS by preventing the virus from entering human cells or replicating inside them. They block the virus at various stages of its life cycle, reducing viral replication and spread.

What are the main classes of antiretroviral drugs?

The main classes of antiretroviral drugs include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors, fusion inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and entry inhibitors (CCR5 antagonists).

How do antiretroviral drugs function in the body?

Antiretroviral drugs prevent the HIV virus from entering human cells or reproducing within them. They interfere with the virus's ability to reverse-transcribe its RNA into DNA, integrate the viral DNA into the host's genome, or produce new viral particles.

Why is a combination of different antiretroviral drugs often used?

A combination of different antiretroviral drugs is used to increase the effectiveness of treatment, reduce the likelihood of drug resistance, and address the virus at multiple points in its life cycle. Typically, three different classes of drugs are combined.

What is the significance of starting antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible?

Starting antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible is crucial to reduce viral replication, prevent the immune system from being damaged, and prevent the development of AIDS. Early treatment helps maintain a low viral load and supports immune function.

How do protease inhibitors work in the treatment of HIV?

Protease inhibitors block the protease enzyme that the virus uses to process and assemble new viral proteins. This prevents the virus from maturing and forming new infectious particles.

What is the role of fusion inhibitors in HIV treatment?

Fusion inhibitors prevent the HIV virus from fusing with the host cell's membrane, blocking the virus from entering the cell and stopping the infection from spreading.

What is the function of integrase inhibitors?

Integrase inhibitors block the integrase enzyme, which the virus uses to integrate its RNA-based genetic material into the host cell's DNA. By inhibiting this step, the virus cannot replicate within the host cell.

What are entry inhibitors and how do they work?

Entry inhibitors, such as CCR5 antagonists, prevent the virus from entering the host cells by blocking the CCR5 receptor on the cell surface, which the virus needs to attach to and enter the cell.

Can antiretroviral therapy cure HIV?

Currently, antiretroviral therapy cannot cure HIV. However, it significantly reduces the viral load, often to undetectable levels, which helps patients live healthy lives without developing AIDS. The therapy is typically a lifelong treatment.