Predominance of weakly cytotoxic, T-bet^LowEomes^Neg CD8⁺ T-cells in human gastrointestinal mucosa: implications for HIV infection.

ABSTRACT: The gastrointestinal mucosa is an important site of HIV acquisition, viral replication, and pathogenesis. Immune cells in mucosal tissues frequently differ in phenotype and function from their non-mucosal counterparts. Although perforin-mediated cytotoxicity as measured in blood is a recognized correlate of HIV immune control, its role in gastrointestinal tissues is unknown. We sought to elucidate the cytotoxic features of rectal mucosal CD8⁺ T-cells in HIV infected and uninfected subjects. Perforin expression and lytic capacity were significantly reduced in rectal CD8⁺ T-cells compared with their blood counterparts, regardless of HIV clinical status; granzyme B (GrzB) was reduced to a lesser extent. Mucosal perforin and GrzB expression were higher in participants not

SUBMITTER: Kiniry BE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5423867 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature