Figure 4. Let-7i increases resistance to apoptosis in HIV-1-infected CD4⁺ T cells.

Activated human CD4⁺ T cells were treated with IL-2 or transfected with let-7i mimic/control or let-7i inhibitor/control oligonucleotides. Cells were then infected with HIV-1_NL4-3 as described above. (A) Annexin V staining for apoptosis of IL-2 treated CD4⁺ T cells during HIV-1_NL4-3 infection were analyzed by FCM 24-48 hrs post infection. (B) Statistical analysis of (A) was done with data from 9 independent experiments. (C) Annexin V staining for apoptosis of HIV-1-infected CD4⁺ T cells transfected with let-7i mimic or negative control (mm-NC) were measured by FCM 24-48 hrs post infection. (D) Statistical analysis of (C) was done with data from 8 independent experiments. (E) Annexin V staining for apoptosis of HIV-1-infected CD4⁺ T cells treated with let-7i inhibitor or negative control (ih-NC) were analyzed by FCM 24-48 hrs post infection. (F) Statistical analysis of (E) was done with data from 5 independent experiments. All the statistical analysis was done with paired, two-tailed student’s t test: *p < 0.05.