Cytotoxic program of HIV-specific CD8⁺ T-cells.

A-B. Expression of CD107a alone or together with perforin, granzyme B or IFN-γ, and granzyme B plus IFN-γ in CD8+ T-cells treated with medium or a pool of HIV Gag peptides (n = 30). The P value of the Wilcoxon test is shown. C. Levels of granzyme B in supernatant of cultured unstimulated or Gag peptides-stimulated PBMC from HIV-infected individuals (n = 15). The dashed line indicates the assay limit of detection. D. Expression of HLA-DR and CD38 in CD107a+ CD8+ T-cells from a representative HIV-infected individual, after stimulation with a pool of HIV Gag peptides. The summary of the results is shown in the lower panel (n = 30). E-F. Frequencies of HLA-DR/CD38-expressing CD8+ T-cells that are CD107a+ (E), and granzyme B+ IFN-γ+ (F) in HIV-infected individuals (n = 30), after stimulation with a pool of HIV Gag peptides. G. Correlation between the levels of granzyme B in supernatant of cultured PBMC and the frequency of CD107a+ CD8+ T-cells in HIV-infected individuals (n = 15) after stimulation with a pool of HIV Gag peptides. The rho and P value of the Spearman test are shown. In D, E and F, the P value of the Dunn’s post-hoc test is shown.