Comparative analysis of telomerase activity in HIV-1–specific CD8⁺ T-cell populations from individuals with progressive or controlled HIV-1. (A) Relative telomerase activity (RTA) of HIV-1–specific CD8⁺ T cells, as well as corresponding CMV/EBV-specific and bulk CD8⁺ T cells, from HIV progressors or controllers measured by RQ-TRAP. Horizontal bars reflect medians. (B) Visualization of telomeric extension of substrate primers by RQ-TRAP following exposure to protein extractions collected from the indicated sorted HIV-1–specific CD8⁺ T-cell populations from progressors or controllers. Left panel to the ladder reflect samples from progressors; right panel reflect samples from controllers; the last 2 lanes reflect the heat-inactivated samples and lysis buffer only control. (C) Correlation between telomere length and telomerase activity of the analyzed HIV-1–specific CD8⁺ T cells.