Vitamin E reduces CD95L mRNA levels in peripheral blood T cells of HIV-positive individuals. (a) CD95L mRNA levels in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of HIV-positive individuals are downregulated by vitamin E. Freshly isolated peripheral blood T lymphocytes from HIV-positive individuals were either left alone or pretreated with vitamin E and then stimulated with plate-bound α-CD3 for 12 hours. CD95L mRNA levels were examined by RT-PCR. Results from five individuals are shown. (b) Effect of vitamin E on AICD. T cells from above donors were either left alone or stimulated with α-CD3 in the absence or presence of CD95Fc, control human IgG1, or vitamin E (25 μM). Cell death was assessed after a further 48 hours by propidium iodide uptake. Data from donors 3 and 4 are shown.