Subject: New studies detail how HIV affects immune system, claim drug exists to block virus Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:59 pm
In a last-ditch effort to rid the body of HIV, droves of white bloods cells self-destruct in an explosive mass suicide that drives the progression toward AIDS, a pair of new studies has found. These fiery deaths attract more unsuspecting cells to come over and help, initiating a domino effect of immune system destruction. The discovery of these mechanisms of cell death has solved a decades-long mystery that has plagued HIV researchers since the emergence of the disease. And researchers claim an existing drug may be able to halt this suicide cascade in its tracks.