Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which type of immune cell does HIV destroy?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

immune system disorder False-color scanning electron micrograph of a T cell infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the agent that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

HIV primarily targets and destroys helper T cells, which are a specialized class of white blood cells critical to the immune system.12

These cells, also known as CD4+ T cells because they express the CD4 protein on their surface, act as central mediators of immune function. They play a vital role by producing factors that activate other immune cells, including B cells, which produce antibodies, and cytotoxic T cells, which eliminate infected cells.23

By infecting and depleting these cells, HIV compromises the body's ability to coordinate an effective immune response against pathogens. The progression of the virus is often monitored by measuring the "CD4 count," which indicates the number of these essential cells remaining in the bloodstream.124