Characterization of the HIV-specific repertoire of T lymphocytes and insight into CD8 T cell mediated immunologic memory

Characterization of the phyenotypic, functional and proliferative properties of antigen-specific CD8 T cell subsets allowed us to delineate a differentiation pathway based on the expression of CD45 isotype and CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), and undergone by T cells following encounter with cognate antigen. Comparative assessment of HIV- and cytomegalovirus-specific responses exhibited by dually-infected patients evidenced a skewed maturation of HIV-specific memory CD8 T lymphocytes and their altered distribution in blood and lymph nodes. These findings contribute to our understanding of immunologic memory, may be relevant to HIV-1 pathology and are pertinent to the design, as well as evaluation of therapeutic regimens and vaccination strategies