HIV predominantly infects cells throughout the immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells, also called helper T cells. These cells play an important function in coordinating the immune response to varied pathogens. The virus enters these cells by binding to particular receptors on their floor, finally resulting in their depletion and a weakened immune system. Macrophages and dendritic cells, different parts of the immune system, may also be contaminated, serving as reservoirs for the virus.
Understanding the precise cells focused by HIV is key to comprehending the development of the illness and creating efficient remedy methods. This information has paved the way in which for antiretroviral therapies (ART) that focus on numerous phases of the viral life cycle, considerably enhancing the lives of people dwelling with HIV. Early identification of an infection by way of testing and immediate initiation of ART are important for stopping illness development and transmission. Traditionally, the identification of those goal cells was a pivotal breakthrough in HIV/AIDS analysis, shifting the trajectory of the pandemic and reworking it from a pandemic to a manageable continual situation.
