Figure 4. Higher cellular A3G protein levels were associated with decreased infectivity and spread of HIV virions after ex vivo activation and infection of primary memory T lymphocytes.

(A) Blood resting CD4+ T central memory (Tcm) and effector memory (Tem) cells sorted from the same uninfected subject were activated and then infected ex vivo with a Vif-positive, CCR5-tropic clinical isolate of HIV. HIV p24 antigen was monitored over time in supernatant fluids from separate Tcm and Tem cell cultures. Virus spread through the culture of Tcm cells more rapidly than it did through the culture of Tem cells previously shown to have higher A3G protein levels (Figure 2). (B) Infectivity of virions produced from Tcm cells was greater than that of virions produced from Tem cells. Infectivity was quantified by luciferase activity normalized by amount of p24 antigen added to TZM-bl reporter cells. Bars represent mean +/− standard deviation (SD).