Figure 7. Proliferation and apoptosis of CD4⁺ T cells cocultured with MDDCs or monocytes.

CD4⁺ T cells were labeled with CFSE, cocultured with MDDCs or monocytes that were pretreated with or without HIV, and analyzed for proliferation and apoptosis. (A and B) The proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells cocultured with virus-treated or untreated MDDCs vs. monocytes. (A) Representative data showing the proliferating CFSE^lo CD4⁺ T cells in the cocultures with MDDCs (left panel) vs. monocytes (right panel) with or without HIV. (B) The frequencies of CFSE^loCD4⁺ T cells in the cocultures from different donors. (C) The expression of active caspase-3 in CD4⁺ T cells cocultured with HIV-treated and mock-treated MDDCs vs. monocytes. (Top left panel) A representative dot plot showing the gating of CD4^lo and CD4^hiCD3⁺ T cells. (Top right panel) A representative histogram to show the up-regulation of active caspase-3 in the CD4^loCD3⁺ T cells cocultured with HIV-treated MDDCs but not in the CD4^hi cells with HIV- or mock-treated MDDCs. No increase in active caspase-3 staining was detected in CD4^lo or CD4^hiCD3⁺ T cells in the cultures with HIV- and mock-treated monocytes. (Bottom panels) The percentages of active caspase-3⁺ cells among the CD4^lo and CD4^hi T cell populations in the cultures from different donors. P values were calculated using the paired t test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.