FIG 4.

Venetoclax increases HIV infected cell clearance by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). CD4 T cells infected with HIV IIIb, in vitro, were treated with or without the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (1 μM) or a vehicle control (DMSO) for 6 h. The cells were subsequently cocultured with autologous, peptide-expanded CD8 (1:2 effector: target [E:T] ratio) for 48 h. (A) Schematic of the experimental workflow for CTL cell experiments. (B) Representative flow plots comparing the effect of vehicle and venetoclax on CTL function. (C) Mean (SEM) of 5 experiments, demonstrating the proportion of p24-positive target cells staining with Live/Dead stain. (D) Representations of Bliss independence calculations. Values greater than the predicted combination (dotted line) represent synergy. (E) Supernatant p24 values for the CTL cocultures (n = 5) relative to vehicle control. Significance for the above plots calculated using a matched one-way ANOVA, with Holm-Sidak correction for multiple comparisons. Significance defined as P ≤ 0.050.