Peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells are effectively depleted in ART-suppressed, HIV-infected humanized mice receiving anti-CD4 antibodies and rapidly recover following cessation of antibody treatment.

(A) Experimental design of HIV infection and anti-CD4 antibody treatment in humanized mice. The frequency of human CD45+ hematopoietic cells (B), CD3+ T cells (C), CD19+ B cells (D), CD3-CD19- myeloid cells (E), CD4+ T cells (F) and CD8+ T cells (G) in peripheral blood was longitudinally monitored by flow cytometric analysis. Blue arrows show the timing of 4 anti-CD4 antibody administrations (6 mg/kg) to the anti-CD4 antibody treatment group. Anti-CD4 antibody treated animals (n = 6) are shown in red; control animals (n = 7 in A; n = 4 in B-G) are shown in black. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired two-sided Mann–Whitney U-tests. Statistical significance was considered when P < 0.05.