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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jan 1.

Published in final edited form as: Cell Immunol. 2008 Oct 4;254(2):142–148. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2008.08.005

Fig. 3 — HIV-infection induces the transient formation of short and long range TNT. The percentage of cells with processes was quantified using confocal microscopy to detect staining for HIV-p24 (green staining), actin (Texas Red-phalloidin, red staining) and DAPI (blue staining). Three dimensional reconstruction, using the imaging program NIS, was performed to visualize all TNTs and filopodia in these cultures. (A) In uninfected (■, black line) and HIV-infected (, red line) macrophage cultures, ∼15-25% of the cells have filopodia. (B) HIV-infection of macrophages induces the formation of additional short TNT (, red line, *p < 0.001, n = 4) as compared to uninfected cultures of macrophages (■, black line). (C) HIV-infection of macrophages induces the formation of an increased number of long TNT (, red line, *p < 0.003, n = 4) as compared to uninfected cultures (■, black line). Statistical significance in (B and C) graphs, between uninfected and HIV-infected macrophages, was found at days 2-6 and 2-4, respectively, and returned to control levels (uninfected cells) after 5 and 6 days post-infection. (D) An example of filopodia at time 0 in uninfected cells stained for actin and DAPI. (E) An example of short range TNT, 3 days post-infection with HIV stained for HIV-p24 (green staining), actin (Texas Red-phalloidin, red staining) and DAPI (blue staining). (F) An example of a decrease in short and long TNT, 7 days post-infection. Arrow in (D) denotes the filopodia structures at time 0. Bar = 25 μm.

Inline graphic — HIV-infection induces the transient formation of short and long range TNT. The percentage of cells with processes was quantified using confocal microscopy to detect staining for HIV-p24 (green staining), actin (Texas Red-phalloidin, red staining) and DAPI (blue staining). Three dimensional reconstruction, using the imaging program NIS, was performed to visualize all TNTs and filopodia in these cultures. (A) In uninfected (■, black line) and HIV-infected (, red line) macrophage cultures, ∼15-25% of the cells have filopodia. (B) HIV-infection of macrophages induces the formation of additional short TNT (, red line, *p < 0.001, n = 4) as compared to uninfected cultures of macrophages (■, black line). (C) HIV-infection of macrophages induces the formation of an increased number of long TNT (, red line, *p < 0.003, n = 4) as compared to uninfected cultures (■, black line). Statistical significance in (B and C) graphs, between uninfected and HIV-infected macrophages, was found at days 2-6 and 2-4, respectively, and returned to control levels (uninfected cells) after 5 and 6 days post-infection. (D) An example of filopodia at time 0 in uninfected cells stained for actin and DAPI. (E) An example of short range TNT, 3 days post-infection with HIV stained for HIV-p24 (green staining), actin (Texas Red-phalloidin, red staining) and DAPI (blue staining). (F) An example of a decrease in short and long TNT, 7 days post-infection. Arrow in (D) denotes the filopodia structures at time 0. Bar = 25 μm.