p-ERK1/2-Refractory CD8⁺ T cells exhibit low per cell effector function in response to polyclonal stimulation.

Abstract

<p>(A–E) Response of total CD8+ T cells to140 minutes PMA+I. (<b>A</b>) Gating for CD8⁺ p-ERK1/2-refractory versus responsive T cell subsets. (B) Frequency of p-ERK1/2-refractory cells. (C) Gating for IFN-γ (dashed gates) and perforin (solid gates) expression within p-ERK1/2 subsets. (D) IFN-γ expression by ERK1/2 signaling response. Left graph displays frequency of IFN-γ⁺ cells contained within the parent population. Right graph, the IFN-γ geometric mean fluorescence intensity (GMF) of IFN-γ⁺ cells (E) Perforin expression by ERK1/2 signaling response. Left graph, frequency of perforin⁺ cells. Right graph, perforin GMF of perforin⁺ cells. (F–G) Response of highly activated (CD38+HLA-DR+) CD8+ T cells. (F) Gating for p-ERK1/2-refractory versus responsive subsets. (G) Frequency of p-ERK1/2-refractory cells within the CD38+HLA-DR+ compartment. (H) Gating for IFN-γ and perforin expression within activated p-ERK1/2 subsets. (I) IFN-γ expression by ERK1/2 signaling response: Left graph, frequency of IFN-γ⁺ cells. Right graph, IFN-γ GMF of IFN-γ⁺ cells. (J) Perforin expression by ERK1/2 signaling response. Left graph, frequency of perforin⁺ cells. Right graph, perforin GMF in perforin⁺ cells. Significance Not Significant (NS) p>0.01, Marginal (M) p<0.01, *p<0.05, **p<0.005, ***p<0.0005. (A,C,F,H, n = 1; D,E,I,J, n = 19).</p