Why are macrophages referred to as the 'HIV factory' during the progression of HIV infection?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Macrophages produce HIV particles continuously without immediately undergoing cell death

  1. Step 1: After entering the human body, HIV infects both CD4+ T-helper cells and macrophages.
  2. Step 2: While HIV replication rapidly lyses and destroys CD4+ T-helper cells, macrophages are relatively resistant to viral cytopathic killing.
  3. Step 3: The provirus inside macrophages continuously transcribes viral RNA, packaging and budding off progeny virions into circulation over extended lifespans, acting as a persistent viral reservoir and 'factory'.
Answer
Because macrophages produce and release new HIV viral particles continuously over long periods without being immediately destroyed by the virus
Why not the others: 'Because macrophages digest viral capsids...' describes successful phagocytic destruction, not a viral factory; 'Because HIV infects only macrophages...' is false because destruction of CD4+ T-helper cells is the direct cause of AIDS; 'Because macrophages divide mitotically in bone marrow...' confuses differentiation with proviral replication.

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