Functional profile and expression of co-stimulatory molecules and of co-inhibitory receptors of HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses during acute and chronic HIV infections.

<p>Analysis of the functional profile (<b>A</b>), of the expression of CD27 and CD28 (<b>B</b>) and of the expression of 2B4, CD160 and PD-1 (<b>C</b>) in HIV-specific CD8 T cells in patients with acute (PHI-B), untreated chronic progressive (CP-B) or non-progressive (LTNP) HIV infection. Representative examples of the distinct flow cytometry panels are shown in <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003423#ppat.1003423.s001" target="_blank">Fig. S1B</a>-D. Regarding the functional profile (<b>A</b>), although TNF-α was detected, analyses are restricted to the expression of IFN-γ, IL-2 and perforin for clarity. All possible combinations of the distinct markers are shown on the <i>x</i> axis, whereas the percentages of the distinct cell subsets within virus-specific CD8 T cells are shown on the <i>y</i> axis. The pie charts summarize the data, and each slice corresponds to a certain combination of molecules. Colors in the pie charts are based on the colored boxes at the bottom of the panel.