FIGURE 8.

Gag-specific CD8⁺ Τ cells from rAd5-HIV/Gag– and rAd5-EAT-2–vaccinated mice exhibit improved cytolytic degranulation. Ad5 preimmune BALB/c mice (n = 6) were subjected to a homologous prime-boost rAd5 covaccination regimen. (A) At week 24, splenocytes from Ad5 preimmune BALB/c mice of rAd5-HIV/Gag– and rAd5-EAT-2–covaccinated or control groups were in vitro cultured in the presence or absence of the immunogenic Gag-specific peptide AMQMLKETI. At 72 h after infection, cells were stained with allophycocyanin-conjugated anti-CD3, Pacific Blue-conjugated anti-CD8, or FITC-conjugated anti-CD107. (B) Granzyme B-producing HIV/Gag-specific splenic CD8⁺ T cells elicited by the homologous prime-boost vaccination were determined at week 24 by multiparameter intracellular cytokine staining assays. Frequency and MFI of Gag-specific granzyme B-producing total CD8⁺ T cells is shown. (C) Frequency and MFI of Gag-specific granzyme B-producing T_CM CD8⁺ T cells is shown. (D) Frequency and MFI of Gag-specific granzyme B-producing T_EM CD8⁺ T cells is shown. The bars represent means ± SD. Statistical analysis was completed using one-way ANOVA with a Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test. A p value < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. *p < 0.05 versus naive animals.