Abstract

AIDS: Anti-HIV agents can suppress virus levels in blood and lymph nodes by inhibiting HIV from making infected T-cells into virus producers. However, anti-HIV agents are not as effective in suppressing viral replication in cells that are known as macrophages (macs). HIV-infected macs do not die as quickly as infected T-cells, and as macs move through the body, they spread HIV. Macs can hide in places that tend to resist anti-HIV drug penetration, such as the eyes or the brain. AOP-RANTES is one of the few drugs that can block the infection of macs.