Fig. 1.

Rapamycin does not inhibit reactivation of HCMV gene expression. (a) Western blot analysis of phosphorylated and total mTOR in immature DCs (1) and mature DCs (2). (b) RNA isolated from immature DCs stimulated with LPS was analysed for IE and GAPDH RNA expression using qRT-PCR. Prior to reactivation, cells were incubated for 2 h with DMSO (1, 3, 5) or rapamycin (2, 4, 6). (c) Immature DCs (1) incubated with DMSO (2, 4, 6) or rapamycin (3, 5, 7) were analysed for viability using trypan blue at 24 h post-treatment. (d) RNA isolated from MoDCs derived from four independent monocyte donors was analysed for reactivation of experimental latency via qRT-PCR post-LPS stimulation in the presence of 1 µM rapamycin (2, 4, 6, 8) or DMSO control (1, 3, 5, 7). IE gene expression was determined, relative to untreated (no solvent) LPS control. Statistical analysis was performed on the four donors combined (n = 4; t-test, P = 0.16).