Co-expression of PD-1, 2B4 and CD160 is independent of when ART is initiated.

<p>Co-expression of PD-1 and 2B4 or of PD-1, 2B4 and CD160 was tested in ART-naïve, ART-treated and HIV-negative individuals. A) The frequency of CD8⁺ T cells co-expressing PD-1 and 2B4 was significantly higher in ART-naïve individuals compared with individuals receiving ART, independent of when ART was initiated. B) The frequency of CD8⁺ T cells co-expressing PD-1, 2B4 and CD160 was significantly higher in ART-naïve individuals compared with ART-treated individuals and HIV-negative individuals, independent of the time of treatment initiation. ** means 0.001</p

2B4 and PD-1 in individuals on ART normalizes to the levels observed for HIV-negative controls.

<p>Frequencies of total and memory CD8⁺ T cells expressing the inhibitory receptors 2B4, PD-1 and CD160. A) The frequency of CD8⁺ T cells expressing 2B4 was significantly higher in ART-naïve individuals compared with ART-treated individuals and the HIV-negative controls, independent of when ART was initiated. B) The frequency of CD8⁺ T cells expressing PD-1 was significantly higher in ART-naïve individuals compared with ART-treated individuals and the HIV-negative controls, independent of when ART was initiated. C) No differences were found in the frequency of CD8⁺ T cells expressing CD160 between ART-naïve, ART-treated and HIV-negative individuals. * means 0.01</p

Clinical characteristics of study participants.

<p>f: Female; m: Male; NA; Not avaliable; Interquartile Range (IQR)</p><p>Clinical characteristics of study participants.</p

Only individuals treated before seroconversion respond with IL-2 expression in combination with CD107a, IFNγ, IL-2 and TNFα.

<p>A) The HIV-specific CD107a, cytokine (IFNγ, IL-2 and TNFα) and chemokine (MIP-1β) responses in CD8⁺ T cells were different between ART-naïve individuals and individuals treated with ART. B) ART-naïve individuals had a significantly greater CD107a response compared with treated individuals, independent of the time of treatment initiation. In addition, the co-expression of CD107a and IFNγ was significantly higher in ART-naïve individuals compared with individuals treated before seroconversion and individuals treated at a CD4⁺ T cell count <350 cells/μl blood.</p