Fig. 5

CD38 promotes proliferation in the CD4⁺ T cells of HIV-infected individuals. Expression of CD38 on CD4⁺ T cells after CD38 siRNA transfection. FACS analysis of CD38 expression on CD4⁺ T cells transfected with either negative control or CD38 siRNA for 72 h (a, b). c Real-time PCR of CD38 mRNA expression following a 48-h transfection period. FACS analysis of CD4⁺ T cell proliferation. d, e After a 6-h transfection period, CD4⁺ T cells were labeled with CELL Trace^TM Violet and stimulated using anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies (1 μg/ml) for 4 days. The proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells was determined. FACS analysis of CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis f. After a 48-h transfection period, CD4⁺ T cells were labeled with 7-AAD and Annexin-V, to quantify CD4⁺ T cell apoptosis. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test; n = 6 donors