Figure 4.

IL-27 enhances cytokine secretion of TIGIT⁺ HIV_Gag-specific T cells

PBMCs from PLWH (HIV⁺, n = 17) were cultured in the absence (red opened symbols) or presence (red closed symbols) of rhIL-27 (100 ng/mL) overnight follow by stimulation with HIV_Gag peptide pool. DMSO was used as control. PBMCs from and healthy controls (HC, n = 17) were stimulated in the absence (black opened symbols) or presence (black closed symbols) of rhIL-27 (100 ng/mL) overnight follow by stimulation with CEF (CMV, EBV and Influenza pool of peptides), and DMSO as control. Secretion of cytokines by TIGIT⁺ T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. (A) Flow cytometry gating strategy for TIGIT⁺ CD4 and CD8 T cells. TIGIT⁺ CD4 and CD8 T cells were analyzed for expression of: (B) CD69⁺CD107a⁺; (C) CD69⁺IFNɣ⁺; and (D) CD69⁺TNF⍺⁺. The graphs are represented by box and whisker showing the median value with first and third quartiles in the box, with whiskers extending to the minimum and maximum values of the frequencies of T cells secreting cytokines. Comparisons between the culture conditions were performed by Wilcoxon test. Comparisons between PLWH and healthy controls were performed by Mann–Whitney test. p value <0.05 was considered significant.