CD86 expression correlates with amounts of HIV produced by macrophages in vitro

Primary macrophages from different donors produce variable levels of HIV; h owever, the mechanisms are unclear. We tested whether variations in cell-su rface or cell-cycle characteristics influenced HIV production. We found tha t greater basal proliferation of the macrophages prior to infection resulte d in more arrested in G(2)M 3 days post-infection (r(2) = 0.7, P < 0.04). L ikewise, the number of G(2)M-arrested macrophages correlated with p24 produ ction (r(2) = 0.78, P < 0.02) and apoptosis (r(2) = 0.67, P < 0.05) later i n the infection. Serum-starvation or reduction, which limit HIV spread, red uced G(2)M arrest and HIV amounts. Surprisingly, the amount of HIV produced correlated with expression levels of the costimulating ligand, CD86, hit n ot with other important molecules, including class II, CD40, or CD54 (r(2) = 0.96, P < 0.0005), These data establish donor characteristics related to variable HIV production in vitro slid suggest that altered expression of co stimulatory ligands may influence HIV production in vivo.