Figure 5.

SARS-CoV-2-specific cytokine-producing CD4 and CD8 T cells

Frequency (percentage, %) of SARS-CoV-2-specific cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A)-producing T cells within CD4 (A) and CD8 (E) T cells in PLWH and HIV-negative individuals. iMFI of SARS-CoV-2-specific cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A)-producing SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells within CD4 (B) and CD8 (F) T cells. Frequency of tri-, bi-, and mono-functional SARS-CoV-2-specific Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2)-producing cells within CD4 (C) and CD8 (G) T cells. Donut charts showing the median distribution of polyfunctionality profiles in SARS-CoV-2-specific cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2)-producing T cells within CD4 (D) and CD8 (H) T cells in PLWH and HIV-negative individuals; the donut slices represent median percentages of tri- (3+), bi- (2+), and mono- (1+) functional T cells; the arches around the circumference indicate the particular cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, or IL-2) produced by the portion of T cells that lie under the arc; parts of the donut surrounded by multiple arches represent polyfunctional cells. Red circle: PLWH with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL and CD4 T cell count ≥200/μL; open red circle: PLWH with HIV-RNA ≥50 copies/mL and/or CD4 T cell count <200/μL; blue circle: HIV-negative controls; bar: median; error bars: interquartile range; statistical analyses in dot plots: Mann-Whitney U test (p values < 0.1 reported above the line connecting the two groups); statistical analyses between donut charts: SPICE permutation test (p values < 0.1 reported above the line connecting the donut charts). SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were measured subtracting unspecific cytokine-production in paired unstimulated control samples from stimulated samples. PLWH: n = 14; HIV-negative individuals: n = 18.