Relation between TNFR-induced apoptosis in CD4 T cells and virologic and immunologic parameters.

Patients were studied in a longitudinal follow-up for CD4 T-cell apoptotic response to TNFR1 (▨) and TNFR2 (░). Determination of the percent of apoptosis was performed as detailed in the legend of Figure1 and Δ of apoptosis corresponds to the percent apoptosis in TNFR-stimulated cultures minus (nCD4/μL) percent apoptosis in medium. The parallel evolution of in vivo CD4 T-cell number, plasmatic HIV RNA viral load, and therapy (d4T, stavudine; 3TC, zidovudine) is indicated from the first time point of the study (M0) to the last one, varying from 6 to 18 months. Data from 3 representative patients are shown.