Figure 4
HIV-1 YU-2 -transfected astrocytes have enhanced levels of proinflammatory chemokines in a dose and time dependent manner. Following HIV-1YU-2-transfection, HIV-1p24, CCL2 and CXCL8 levels were assayed by ELISA. (A) HIV-1YU-2-transfection significantly increased culture supernatant cumulative CCL2 levels by 2 and 5 days as compared to both respective mock controls and day 1, HIV-1YU-2-transfected astrocytes (p < 0.001). (B) Astrocyte CXCL8 levels in the supernatants also increased significantly upon HIV-1YU-2-transfection as compared to mock controls (p < 0.001). CXCL8 levels in HIV-1YU-2-transfected astrocytes continued to increase significantly as compared to the previous day, over five days post-transfection (p < 0.05). (C) Cumulative HIV-1p24 levels in total cell extracts were assayed on 1, 2 and 5 days post-transfection to quantify viral protein expression. HIV-1YU-2-transfection significantly increased HIV-1p24 levels as compared to mock on day 2 and day 5 (p < 0.001). (D) In HIV-1YU-2-tranfected astrocytes treated with and without IL-1β a significant concomitant increase in HIV-1p24 expression was observed at both 4 and 7 days (p < 0.001).