werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (01/02/85)
> <<>> > Dr. Robert Gallo, an > AIDS expert at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, said > identifying the "receptor" protein for the virus was significant. > ... for whatever it's worth. > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > Henry C. Mensch | User Confuser | Purdue University User Services The actual protein involved is called CD4, and it occurs on so-called T4 cells. Now for some immunology: Blood Cells are divided into Red and White Cells. White Cells are divided into B-Cells which make antibodies and T-cells, which are for cellular immunity (and also are the things that cause graft rejection.) T-cells are divided into several classes (1 - 8 so far) of which T4 are one of the most important kind. T4 cells are helper cells - they make the rest of the immune system work better. Note: in the absence of T4 cells, the AIDS virus, which is HTLV-3 (also called LAV) cannot grow. Immunosuppressed people shouldn't be able to get AIDS. Experimentally, immunosuppressed cats don't get FAIDS (Feline AIDS) One of the reasons, therefore that Gays, Drug Users, etc., are more suseptible to AIDS (Besides the fact that they are exposed to the virus more often) is that they tend to get other infections more often which activate the immune system and make more T4 cells for the AIDS virus to grow on. (Talk about Molecular Catch-22s) I'm a MD/PhD candidate in Immunology and recently heard Robert Gallo give a very well-organized seminar, so I'll followup with another posting on the history of AIDS. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner What do you expect? Watermelons are out of season!