Understanding HIV Infection and Immune Cell Death

What is the primary reason for the massive drop in CD4 cells during an untreated HIV infection?

• Destruction of infected cells by the immune system

• Lack of CD4 cell production

• Direct infection of all CD4 cells by HIV

• Death of uninfected cells due to indirect effects

What is pyroptosis?

• A method of viral replication

• A process of cell division

• A form of cell death triggered by inflammation

• A type of immune response

Which protein is responsible for detecting rogue DNA in cells?

• Caspase 1

• DNA-PK

• HIV protease

• IFI16

How does HIV protease contribute to the death of infected T cells?

• By cleaving viral precursors and activating caspases

• By directly destroying the cell membrane

• By preventing cell division

• By integrating viral DNA into host DNA

What role do CD8 T cells play in the context of HIV infection?

• They transport HIV to lymph nodes

• They become infected by HIV

• They kill infected CD4 cells

• They produce antibodies against HIV

Why do uninfected T cells travel to lymph nodes during HIV infection?

• To escape infection

• To receive nutrients

• To get exposed to new pathogens

• To undergo apoptosis

What is the primary cause of immune system failure in advanced HIV infection?

• Overproduction of antibodies

• Inability to produce new immune cells

• Massive loss of uninfected T cells

• Direct killing of all immune cells by HIV

What is the effect of chronic inflammation on the immune system during HIV infection?

• It has no significant effect

• It wears out immune cells and causes more cell death

• It leads to the production of more T cells

• It strengthens the immune response

What is the role of interleukin-1 beta in pyroptosis?

• It prevents viral replication

• It integrates viral DNA into host DNA

• It creates an inflammatory environment leading to cell death

• It directly kills the cell

What was previously thought to be the main cause of CD4 cell loss in HIV infection?

• Lack of immune response

• Chronic inflammation

• Chain reactions of pyroptosis

• Direct infection of each cell by HIV