Fig. 2: The proportion of Mtb300-specific CD4 T cells expressing CD153 is reduced in aTB compared to LTBI regardless of HIV status.

a Representative flow cytometry plots showing the expression of CD153 in Mtb300-spcific CD4 T cells in one LTBI and one aTB participant. No stim = no stimulation; Mtb300 = stimulation with a pool of 300 Mtb-derived peptides. b Proportion of Mtb300-specific CD4 T cells expressing CD153 in LTBI/HIV− (n = 35, green), aTB/HIV− (n = 33, blue), LTBI/HIV+ (n = 30, orange), and aTB/HIV+ (n = 35, red). Error bars indicate medians and interquartile ranges. Statistical comparisons were performed using One-way ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test with a Dunn’s multiple comparison test. CD153 expression was assessed only on Mtb300-specific response (i.e CD4 T cells expressing any measured cytokines) exhibiting more than 30 events. c CD153 expression in Mtb300-specific CD4 T cells in LTBI and aTB HIV-infected participants stratified based on plasma HIV viral load (aviremic vs viremic). Median VL for each subgroup is presented at the bottom of the graph. Statistical comparisons were performed using Mann–Whitney test. d Correlation between HIV viral load and the proportion of CD153+ Mtb300-specific CD4 T cells in the aTB (top) and LTBI (bottom) groups. Correlations were tested by a two-tailed nonparametric Spearman rank test.