Naturally Derived Anti-HIV Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP) Triggers a Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent Antiviral Immune Response

Figure 5

PSP upregulates surface Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression in human THP1 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. (a) TLR4 baseline expression (red curves) was determined in HIV− THP1 cells prior to infection and PSP treatment; the IgG isotype was used as negative control (grey curves). Graph represents average of replicates. (b) After 3 and 6 days of 200 μg/ml PSP treatment, surface TLR4 expression was analyzed using direct flow cytometry in either HIV−/HIV+ THP1 cells. Representative images of flow cytometry histograms. Grey curves represent IgG controls, red curves represent control samples (not treated with either PSP or LPS), blue curves represent cells treated with PSP, and green curves represent cells treated with LPS. Bar graphs shows average of replicates, , of both HIV-positive and HIV-negative analysis. (c) TLR4 baseline expression in different cell passages was analyzed using flow cytometry in HIV− THP1 cells; the IgG isotype was used as negative control. LPS was used as a positive control. Statistical analysis was performed using the -test and one-way ANOVA, (, , and ).

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