Reduction of HTLV-1 provirus load of PBMCs by DHMEQ. (A) Detection of NF-κB-activated cells with IL-2R expression in PBMCs of asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of PBMC samples (upper panels) and control cell lines (lower panels). Primary antibodies used are indicated on the top as well as the agent used for nuclear staining. Original magnification ×600. Objective lens, 60×/1.4. (B) The experimental protocol for measuring changes in the provirus copies after DHMEQ treatment of PBMCs. (C) Reduction of HTLV-1 provirus load in PBMCs by DHMEQ. Reduction rates of HTLV-1 proviral copies of DHMEQ-treated PBMCs of virus carriers are presented. Mixture of equal number of K562 and TL-Om1 cells served as a control (C).