Dividing, long-term cultured cell lines and mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) have been used frequently as target cells for the study of antiviral activity of various drugs against HIV-1. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBM (PHA-PBM) may serve as one of the most suitable target cells for antiviral testing, since they may provide a milieu close to the physiological condition. However, it is as yet poorly understood whether the sensitivity of HIV-1 to drugs as assessed in vitro in PHA-PBM reflects the virus-drug interactions in patients with HIV-1 infection.
