A recent article in Nature Medicine titled "Effect of interleukin-2 on the pool of latently infected, resting CD4 positive T cells in HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy" gives more hope that a cure for AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency sydrome) may be found. Previous studies have shown that a large number of inactive or resting CD4 positive T cells contain the HIV virus (the virus that causes AIDS). T cells are white blood cells that mature in the thymus and can become one of basically two types: CD4 positive and CD8 positive cells.
CD's (CD= Cluster of Designation) are proteins on the surface of these white blood cells that help them communicate with other cells in our bodies to eliminate microorganisms. Without these cell surface proteins the immune system would not be able to communicate properly and would not be able to eliminate foreign invaders from our bodies. They are a very important part of our immune system.
CD4 positive T cells are also called T helper cells. That is because they help other white blood cells like our B cells to make antibodies and they help CD8 positive T cells (T cytotoxic) to destroy cells of our body that are infected with viruses. CD8 positive T cells are able to detect and destroy cells of our body that have changed and are no longer normal. If cells in our body are infected with a virus oftentimes the virus will cause the cell to place viral proteins on the surface of the cell. The CD8 cells can detect these changes however they usually need CD4 positive T cells help to destroy these infected cells.
The HIV virus attaches to two different proteins on the surface of the cell in order to infect a cell. One of those proteins is the CD4 protein. When the CD4 positive T cell is activated (enlisted to help other white blood cells) then the HIV virus will start reproducing and will eventually destroy the CD4 positive T cell. The new HIV viruses are then released from the killed CD4 positive T cell and infect other uninfected CD4 positive T cells. The HIV virus does not usually reproduce when the CD4 positive T cell is resting (not working). Resting CD4 positive T cells can become infected by this virus.
The medications used to treat HIV infected patients eliminate the HIV virus from activated CD4 positive T cells. This treatment is called HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy). HAART does not eliminate virus from the resting CD4 positive T cells. Unfortunately, there are a lot of HIV infected resting CD4 positive T cells in HIV infected patient's bodies.
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