Kinetics of apoptosis and viral production in mature SP CD4⁺ and immature (intermediate and TN) thymocytes.

Cells were isolated as described in “Materials and methods,” infected with a primary isolate HIV-1_B-LAIp, and maintained in culture in the presence of IL-7 (5 ng/mL), TNF-α (1 ng/mL), IL-1 (10 ng/mL), and IL-6 (10 ng/mL). Percentages of apoptotic cells were determined by the Yopro dye technique (A), and viral production was evaluated by p24 titration in the culture supernatants (B). Data are given as a mean of independent experiments carried out with thymuses from 5 different donors. ▪ indicates SP CD4⁺; ●, immatures ■, SP CD4⁺/HIV; ○, immatures/HIV.