A male patient presents to the clinic with a history of recurrent infections and unexplained weight loss over the past few months. He reports having unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners in the past and a history of intravenous drug use. Physical examination reveals oral thrush, generalized lymphadenopathy, and a low-grade fever. An infectious agent is believed to be the cause of his symptoms. Which is the key cell that is killed by this infectious agent?
Group of answer choices
- B-cells
- CD4 T-cells
- Macrophages
- Neutrophil precursor cells
The correct answer is: CD4 T-cells
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Explanation:
The patient is presenting with symptoms such as oral thrush, generalized lymphadenopathy, low-grade fever, and a history of unprotected sexual intercourse and intravenous drug use. These are suggestive of HIV infection, which can lead to AIDS if untreated.
In HIV, the virus primarily targets CD4 T-cells (a type of helper T-cell) which play a crucial role in the immune response. HIV binds to the CD4 receptor on these cells, enters the cells, and gradually destroys them. This depletion of CD4 T-cells weakens the immune system and predisposes individuals to opportunistic infections like oral thrush (caused by Candida), as well as other infections that the immune system would typically control.
