Assessing the Relative Efficacy of Antiretroviral Activity of Different Drugs on Macrophages

HIV-infected monocyte/macrophage-derived cells are believed to play a major role in the spread of HIV through the body. Not only are fresh monocytes and more differentiated macrophages relatively insensitive to the cytopathic effect of HIV, but once infected they can efficiently infect T-cells. The protocols in this chapter can be used to culture HIV in monocytes/macrophages and to study factors such as drugs and chemokines that influence its replication. Support protocols describe the 6-d-adherence method for preparing mature monocytes/macrophages, a quick and simple means of obtaining mature cells for routine HIV-infection studies, as well as methods for quantitation of HIV in monocytes/macrophages.