Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Assessment of the Synaptic Interface of Primary Human T Cells from Peripheral Blood and Lymphoid Tissue
06:27

Assessment of the Synaptic Interface of Primary Human T Cells from Peripheral Blood and Lymphoid Tissue

Published on: July 30, 2018

6.6K

The immune synapses reveal aberrant functions of CD8 T cells during chronic HIV infection

Nadia Anikeeva1, Maria Steblyanko1, Leticia Kuri-Cervantes2

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Nature Communications
|October 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Chronic HIV infection impairs CD8 T cell function by causing premature immune aging. Aberrant naive T cells develop into abnormal effector cells, reducing the capacity to control HIV and other infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to persistent inflammation and premature immune system aging.
  • This immune aging particularly affects CD8 T cells, diminishing their functional capacity over time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms behind the reduced potency of CD8 T cells in individuals with chronic HIV.
  • To analyze how HIV infection impacts T cell synapse formation and degranulation patterns.

Main Methods:

  • CD8 T cells from people living with HIV were exposed to artificial lipid bilayers presenting T-cell receptor and integrin ligands.
  • Analysis included cellular morphology, synaptic interface dynamics, and degranulation patterns.

Main Results:

  • A significant proportion of phenotypically naive T cells from HIV-infected individuals formed mature synapses with focused degranulation.
  • This synapse formation and degranulation is typically a characteristic of differentiated, effector T cells.

Conclusions:

  • HIV infection can induce aberrant differentiation in naive T cells, leading to the development of anomalous effector T cells.
  • These anomalous effector T cells may have a compromised ability to control HIV and other opportunistic infections.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Exosomes from the Plasma of HIV-1 Positive Individuals06:46

Isolation of Exosomes from the Plasma of HIV-1 Positive Individuals

Published on: January 5, 2016

17.5K
Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.08:11

Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.

Published on: September 1, 2015

8.8K

Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
3.0K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
1.1K
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
1.3K
Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens01:29

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
881
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
1.2K