Hello Paulette, I will try to answer your question in an as clear way I can
explain. I don't work about AIDS but I work in immunology and I know a
little about that problem.
Well, all the immune system is regulated through a very complicated network
of interactions, molecular messagers, ... between immune cells.
One kind of immune cells are the T cells (= T lymphocytes). T cells can be
divided into T helper and T cytolytic subpopulations. T helper cells are, in
summary, the cells that control the immune response, triggering other immune
cells to react, for example by secreting antibody (by B cells) or by
inflammation (by T cytolytic or else). So T helper cells are absolutely
necessary for a good immune response.
But in the case of AIDS, HIV attack precisely the T helper cells (entering
these cells through a molecule called CD4, only present on the surface of
these cells) and, at the end, T helper cells number is too down for them to
be able to trigger a good immune response. So patient cannot anymore react
against common bacteries or viruses, allowing them to develope infection.
That is why an AIDS patient often die because of desease other than AIDS.
But I think (I'm not sure) that AIDS is also able to attack from itself in
certain cases, after a long time.
But now, with tri-therapy (in rich countries only, and that's too bad !!),
number of HIV seems to present a huge reduction in blood and it is possible
to think that a long term treatment could eradicate HIV in patient blood.
But it is too early to affirm that.
That's all I can say about AIDS, I don't know ARC or else.
Good Luck
Olivier Thellin
Paulette T. Saunders a écrit dans le message
<3597b7f4.2248119 at news.escape.ca>...
>>>>>Anybody out there know anything about T-cells
>and whether or not they become depleted with the onset of
>HSV2. I have a friend who was recently diagnosed, and is quite
>frightened because his T-cell count is about half
>of what it should be. His dr says the mid-200's is within normal
>parameters, but he's afraid he might have AIDS or ARC,
>along with herpes, even though his HIV tests keep coming back negative
>.I'd be *extremely* grateful for any feedback about this, you guys;
>I'm pretty fond of this friend, and he's really, really scared.
>>Thanks in advance, everybody;
>>>
