Effect of ritonavir on colony formation of BM derived from normal and HIV-infected persons.

BMMCs obtained from (A) normal uninfected controls (n = 5) and (B) HIV-infected patients (n = 5) were plated in methylcellulose as previously described. Ritonavir increased colony formation in a dose-dependent fashion in cultures of cells from both HIV-infected patients and normal controls, but to a greater extent in the patient samples. Samples of BMMCs plated with 3 nm ritonavir (n = 3) showed increases in colony growth between 2 nm and 5 nm (20% in normal samples and 200% in HIV-infected persons). ░ indicates a 2-nmol/L concentration of Ritonavir; ▨, 5-nmol/L concentration; ▪, 10-nmol/L concentration; , 20-nmol/L concentration.