beta-estradiol attenuates the anti-HIV-1 efficacy of Stavudine (D4T) in primary PBL

Background Female hormones are known to play an important role in predisposition for many infectious diseases. Recent work suggests there are gender effects in HIV/AIDS progression. Here we ask whether the sex steroid hormone β-estradiol affects the replication of HIV-1 or the efficacy of a common anti-retroviral drug, Stavudine (D4T).