LT-α expression by blood B-cell populations.

<p>(A) Representative plot showing gating strategy on live total CD19+ B-cells from HIV- and HIV+ donors, expressing LT-α. Frequencies of cells expressing LT-α within (B) total, (C) mature activated, (D) resting switched memory, (E) precursor marginal zone (MZ)-like, (F) mature MZ-like and (G) transitional immature (TI) B-cells expressing LT-α in the blood of rapid progressors (left panels; 5–8 months PI (n = 11), 3–6 months ART (n = 6) and 9–12 months ART (n = 5)), classic progressors (middle panels; 0–3 months PI (n = 12), 5–8 months PI (n = 17), and 24 months PI (n = 13)), and viremic and aviremic slow progressors (EC) (right panels; viremic (n = 6); aviremic (n = 5)). The same values for HIV-negative donors in the left, middle and right panels are used as a control group (n = 7). Data are expressed as percentages of LT-α expression within each B-cell population. Cell population frequencies were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test for pairwise comparisons of different phases of infection within each group and between the study groups, respectively. Data shown are mean ±SEM. * p<0.05. PI, postinfection; ART, antiretroviral therapy.