Both necrosis and apoptosis contribute to HIV-1-induced killing of CD4 cells

Abstract

Data currently available on HIV-1-induced cytopathology is unclear regarding the mechanism of cell killing. To clarify the extent to which apoptosis or necrosis is involved in HIV-1-induced cell death in view of conflicting existing data. T lymphoblastoid cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells were infected by various strains of HIV-1 and the numbers of apoptotic or necrotic cells were quantified at various times after infection using video-image analysis techniques; the results were compared with the amount of fragmented DNA using a quantitative method. Measurement of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) and intracellular calcium concentrations [Ca2+]i was performed with fluorescent probes and fluorescence concentration analysis (FCA). Although lymphoblastoid and monocytoid cells acutely infected by HIV-1 had increased levels of fragmented DNA, a marker of apoptotic cell death, few ( Both necrosis and apoptosis contribute to HIV-1-induced killing of CD4 cells.