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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.01.13.476200

The immune synapses reveal aberrant functions of CD8 T cells during chronic HIV infection

Anikeeva, N.·Steblyanko, M.·Kuri-Cervantes, L.·Buggert, M.·Betts, M. R.·Sykulev, Y.
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Abstract

It is well-established that chronic HIV infection causes persistent low-grade inflammation that induces premature aging of the immune system in HIV patient including senescence of memory and effector CD8 T cells. To uncover the reasons of gradually diminished potency of CD8 T cells from chronically HIV infected people, we have analyzed cellular morphology and dynamics of the synaptic interface followed exposure of peripheral polyclonal CD8 T cells at various differentiation stages to planar lipid bilayers. The above parameters were linked to pattern of degranulation that determines efficiency of CD8 T cells cytolytic response. We found a large fraction of naive T cells from HIV infected people developing mature synapses and demonstrating focused degranulation, a signature of a differentiated T cells. Further differentiation of aberrant naive T cells leads to development of anomalous effector T cells undermining their capacity to control HIV and other viruses that could be contained otherwise.

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Anikeeva, N., Steblyanko, M., Kuri-Cervantes, L., Buggert, M., Betts, M. R., Sykulev, Y.. 2022-01-15. The immune synapses reveal aberrant functions of CD8 T cells during chronic HIV infection. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.13.476200

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