Increased percentage of BrdU+ monocytes is predictive rapid progression to AIDS and severity of SIVE.

<p>(<b>A–C</b>): BrdU was injected prior to (n = 1) and after SIVmac251 infection (n = 3) and the percentages of BrdU+ monocytes 24hrs after BrdU injection was determined by flow cytometric analysis. <b>A</b>. In four uninfected CD8+ T lymphocyte depleted animals, the percentage of BrdU+ monocytes remained approximately 2% of total monocytes in all time points. Thus, CD8+ T lymphocyte depletion alone without SIV infection does not alter monocyte turnover (n = 4). CD8+ T lymphocyte depleted SIV infected animals were divided into two groups: slow progressors (<b>B</b>) and rapid progressors (<b>C</b>). <b>B</b>. Monocyte turnover is unchanged at all points examined after infection in slow progressors (n = 2). <b>C</b>. The percentages of BrdU+ monocytes increased dramatically with rapid disease in animals that succumbed to AIDS (n = 5). The magnitude of BrdU+ incorporation of monocytes at necropsy can differentiate mild and severe SIVE. Each animal is represented by a different symbol. Error bars are standard error of the mean.