article_snippet.sent: But this immune response does not work if significant oxidative stress is damaging the T cells and depriving the body of the tools this immune response needs to repair the T cells, according to a new study.
article_snippet.sent: If the immune cells lack repair enzyme Gpx4, the T cells die off as the T cells divide, which means the immune system becomes weak and the infection can be chronic.
article_snippet.sent: This is the enzyme responsible for repairing oxidative damage to the cell membrane.
article_snippet.sent: This can cause oxidative damage to proteins, membranes and genes.
article_snippet.sent: Oxidative damage has been implicated in the cause of many diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's and has an impact on the body's aging process.
article_snippet.sent: That was enough antioxidant to protect the T cells' cell membranes from damage, so the T cells' could multiply and successfully fend off the viral infection.