Figure 5.

IL-6 does not block IL-2 mediated effects on TFH viability or HIV replication, or TFR-mediated inhibition of TFH viability or HIV replication. TFH were spinoculated with CXCR4-tropic HIV, labeled with VPD, and cultured at a ratio of 1:1 with unlabeled, uninfected TFH (Control) or TFR in the presence of 5 μM saquinavir and 10 IU/ml IL-2 or 10 IU/ml IL-2 and 5 ng/ml IL-6 for 5 days (n=7). (A) Percent GFP⁺ expression and (B) GFP-MFI in GFP⁺VPD⁺TFH were determined in cocultures with IL-2 or IL-2 and IL-6 using the gating strategy in Figure 1 . (C) Total VPD⁺TFH and (D) GFP⁺VPD⁺TFH cell counts were determined in cocultures supplemented with IL-2 or IL-2 and IL-6. All graphs represent data collected from the same six cocultures. Statistical analyses were performed using 2-way ANOVA and Sidak’s multiple comparisons tests (Graphpad Prism v8) and significance indicated: ns not significant; *p<0.05; **p<0.01.