Fig. 5: PD-1^hiIFN-γ⁺ FOXP3⁺ cell induction is associated with the expression of IL-1β-dependent AKT1 signaling and enhanced by TLR2 ligands in the context of HIV infection.

Purified tonsil CD4⁺ T cells (~93% purity) were TCR activated, infected with HIV, and allowed to expand in the presence of TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) and IL-2 (100 U/ml) for 6 days post-infection unless otherwise noted. Efavirenz (50 nM), LPS (10 μg/ml), PG-LPS (5 μg/ml), HKGT (10⁶/ml), IL-1β (20 ng/ml), IL-33 (20 ng/ml), Anakinra (10 μg/ml), LY294002 (10 μM), and Nigericin (10 nM) were added as indicated, 36 h post infection. A PD-1 and IFN-γ (left) and AREG (right) expression in FOXP3⁺ cells. B ELISA quantification of IL-1β (left) and AREG (right) in cell culture supernatants collected on day 3 post infection. p-Akt (C) and AREG (D) expression in FOXP3⁺ cells. E Percentage and absolute cell numbers of PD-1^hiIFN-γ⁺FOXP3⁺ cells in CD4⁺ population. F AREG expression in FOXP3⁺ cells (left) and ELISA quantification of AREG (right), 6 days post infection. A–F Data are representative of three independent experiments and are presented as mean value +/− SEM. (*P < 0.05; **<0.005, ***<0.0005, ****<0.00005; unpaired t tests). Source data are provided as a Source data file.