Correlation Between TIGIT Expression on CD8+ T Cells and Higher Cytotoxic Capacity.

ABSTRACT: Persistent exposure to antigen leads to T-cell exhaustion and immunologic dysfunction. We examined the immune exhaustion markers T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and healthy individuals and the relationship with cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocyte activity. Frequencies of TIGIT but not PD-1 were positively correlated with CD8+ T-lymphocyte activity in HIV-aviremic and healthy individuals; however, there was no correlation in HIV-viremic individuals. Transcriptome analyses revealed up-regulation of genes associated with antiviral immunity in TIGIT+CD8+ versus TIGIT-CD8+ T cells. Our data suggest that TIGIT+CD8+ T cells do not necessarily represent a state of immune exhaustion and maintain an intrinsic cytotoxicity in HIV-infected individuals.

SUBMITTER: Blazkova J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8599894 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature