The activation status of the cells was then investigated by measuring CD69 expression on CD19+ and CD3+ PBMCs by Flow cytometry prior to migration assay. After 2 days of activation, 0.5 × 106 PBMCs were added in the upper insert of the migration plates whereas 0.6 ml of supernatant from HIV-1 exposed or non-exposed FDCs were added in the lower insert. After 4 h at 37 °C, the inserts were removed, the cells collected from the lower wells and counted in a hemacytometer. Thereafter, the migrated cells were fixed with 2 % PFA and the frequency of CD19 and CD3 positive cells among migrated cells was evaluated.
The monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used to identify and characterize the PBMCs in the migration assay are PE anti-CD69, FITC and PE anti-CD19, APC and FITC anti-CD3, PE and FITC isotype antibodies all purchased from BD Bioscience.