Thus, HIV-1 infection alone (i.e. in the absence of molecules causing premature dimerization of Gag-Pol) is sufficient to induce cell death in THP-1 cells, and priming (e.g. via TLR stimulation) is required for HIV-1 infection-induced IL-1β secretion and elevated levels of cell death. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and HIV-1 infection.