FIG. 5.

Failure of CpG ODN to enhance allostimulation by monocytes from HIV+ donors with advanced disease. PBMC from three HIV+ donors (P4, P5, P6) with plasma HIV RNA levels of >10,000 copies/ml and CD4 counts of <200 cells/μl, three HIV+ individuals (P1, P2, P3) with plasma HIV RNA levels of <400 copies per ml and CD4 cell counts of >200 cells/μl, and five healthy individuals (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5) were cultured for 24 h with or without CpG ODN2216. Monocytes were isolated by using anti-CD14 magnetic beads, washed, and plated in 96-well plates with heterologous PBMC from healthy donors at a ratio of 1 monocyte per 10 responder PBMC. After 5 days of incubation, cellular proliferation was measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation. Stimulation indices (y axis) were determined by dividing the response (mean of triplicate wells) of stimulated cells by the response of cells incubated in medium alone. Note that the responder cells used in experiments labeled P4, P5, and P6 were from the same donor as in experiments labeled C3, C4, and C5.