CD4 T lymphocytes form a subgroup of T lymphocytes that is responsible for cell-mediated immune responses.
Synonyms
T helper cell
CD4 cells
Detailed description
T lymphocytes carrying the surface antigen CD4 are called T helper cells. After activation, they release substances that are either involved in cell-mediated immunity or that stimulate B cell immune responses. HIV infects mainly this T lymphocyte subgroup.
In a case study, scientists of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf investigated the T-cell response of a cancer patient, who was
AIDS, an immunodeficiency disease caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide. Thanks to antiviral therapies, the disease can
