FIG 3.

HIV-1 replicates more effectively in the CD4⁺ T cells of individuals with profound SCM expansion. (A and B) Comparison of p24⁺ cell frequencies between the low and high SCM groups at each day of cell culture monitoring revealed striking differences within the entire CD4⁺ T cell population (A), as well as within the distinct CD4⁺ T cell subsets (B). The statistical significance of differences between the data sets depicted on bar graphs was analyzed using two-way ANOVA and is indicated by asterisks (*, P < 0.033; **, P < 0.0021; ***, P < 0.0002; ****, P < 0.0001). (C and D) The degree of SCM (C) and CD95⁺ CD4⁺ T cell (D) expansion in the peripheral blood of infected individuals is positively associated with the viral load at the early set point of acute HIV-1 infection according to the Pearson’s correlation test.