The primary cause of immunodeficiency in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) due to HIV is because of the virus' focused attack on which of the following cell types?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by HIV, a virus that infects and destroys CD4+ helper T cells.The helper T cells are critical for stimulating B cells to produce antibody, cytotoxic T cells to lyse target cells, and macrophages to phagocytize and destroy ingested organisms.Because of the integral role for this cell type in almost every arm of the immune response, the lack of this cell causes a profound immunosuppression that seriously undermines the body's ability to defend itself from infection and disease.

The Primary Cause of Immunodeficiency in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency