Figure 2

Relationship between HIV-1 infection and LP CD4+ T cell depletion. (A) Representative flow plots identifying p24+ cells using the gate established in mock infection (<1%). The net frequency of p24+CD4+ T cells (e.g.,%p24+ =%p24+ in HIV-1 minus %p24+ in Mock) is reported. (B) Spearman rank correlation analysis between the percentage of p24+ cells at 4 dpi and the level of LP CD4+ T cell depletion at 6 dpi. The best-fit line, Spearman r and the p value are indicated. (C) The percentage of p24+ cells was compared between ‘depleters’ and ‘non-depleters.’ Each point is a unique sample. The horizontal solid line indicates the median infection level. Statistical significance was determined by Mann–Whitney U test, *p = 0.03. (D-E) LPMCs were pre-treated with Efavirenz for 2 h prior to infection with HIV-1_Ba-L or mock and re-dosed at 3 dpi. The net frequencies of p24+ cells (overall ANOVA p = 0.0008) were calculated for each donor at 6 dpi (Figure 2D). The percentage of CD4+ T cells surviving relative to mock infection in the presence of Efavirenz is shown (overall ANOVA p = 0.0394) (Figure 2E). The medians are shown and the dashed horizontal line indicates 100% survival relative to mock infection. Statistically significant differences were determined using the Friedman Test and Dunn’s Multiple Comparison test to compare between groups.