Potential yoga modules for treatment of hematopoietic inhibition in HIV-1 infection.

This article is expected to contribute towards understanding the therapeutic benefits of specific yoga modules on the inhibition of replication and enhancement to normal levels of hematopoiesis in HIV-1 infected subjects. More unique could be the effects of yoga on the indirect effects of HIV-1 induced hematopoietic inhibition of the CD34+ progenitor stem cells, via the CD4+ T lymphocytes. Such indirect effects may be caused by host cellular factors. Yoga practices may also improve the self renewal capacity (a step that precedes commitment of CD34+ progenitor cells to terminal differentiation), via STAT5 gene regulation. This may eliminate the need for constitutive STAT5 gene expression through gene therapy. In this article recent research and ancient Indian literature are reviewed to devise yoga modules for the potential treatment of hematopoietic inhibition in HIV-1 infection. The possible mechanisms through which hematopoietic inhibition may occur in HIV-1 infected patients are first described followed by the role of stress in the progression of HIV where probable involvement of psycho-neuro-immunological axis (PNI) is highlighted. Yoga therapy is introduced and its effectiveness in terms of evidence in relevant area is reviewed. Further, the basic principles of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy [IAYT] are described and depending on the potential mechanisms through which yoga therapy may act, both modern scientific research and ancient "scriptural" evidence are provided at all the five levels of existence (body, life force, emotional, intellectual and bliss). This will enable to design comprehensive yoga modules that may intervene in this indirect inhibition of haematopoiesis in HIV-1 infected individuals and potentially restore normal levels of haematopoiesis.