HIV that causes AIDS, first starts destroying which of the following cells?

Helper T-lymphocytes

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) primarily targets and destroys Helper T-lymphocytes (also known as CD4⁺ T-cells). These cells are a crucial part of the immune system and play a key role in coordinating and regulating the body's immune response to infections.

When HIV infects Helper T-lymphocytes, it hijacks their cellular machinery to replicate itself. As the virus multiplies, it causes the death of the infected T-cells. This leads to a progressive decline in the number of functional Helper T-lymphocytes in the body, weakening the immune system's ability to fight off infections and diseases.

As the number of Helper T-cells decreases, the immune system becomes severely compromised, and the affected individual becomes susceptible to a wide range of opportunistic infections and certain types of cancer. This advanced stage of HIV infection is known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

While HIV can also infect other cells of the immune system, such as B-lymphocytes and macrophages, the destruction of Helper T-lymphocytes is the primary cause of the immunodeficiency observed in HIV/AIDS. Without adequate functioning Helper T-cells, the immune system cannot effectively combat infections, leading to the characteristic features of AIDS.