Fig. 1 | Scientific Reports

Fig. 1

From: GITR triggering has limited impact on HIV-specific CD8 T-cell function but enhances HIV transcription reactivation from latently infected CD4 T-cells

Fig. 1

GITR expression on bulk and HIV-specific T-cells from PLWH Off-ART. (a) Box plots represent the proportion of GITR + events within bulk and antigen-specific (Ag-specific) CD8TCs (left) and within each memory subset (bulk: center and Ag-specific: right). The color code shown at the bottom mirrors the one shown in the pie charts. Upper pie graphs depict the CD8TC memory distribution and contribution of GITR + events on bulk and Ag-specific cells. Lower pie graphs depict the memory distribution of the bulk and Ag-specific GITR + CD8TCs. (b) Bar plot represents the GITR, 4-1BB and PD-1 single and coexpression pattern in bulk, HIV- and CEF-specific CD8TCs. (c) Correlation analysis between GITR expression across memory subsets in bulk/HIV-specific CD8TCs and viral load. (d) Box plots represent the proportion of GITR + events within regulatory (Treg), conventional (Tconv) CD4TCs and bulk CD8TCs (left); and within each memory subset of Treg and Tconv CD4TCs (center and right, respectively). Upper pie graphs depict the CD4TC memory distribution and contribution of GITR + events on Treg and Tconv cells. Lower pie graphs depict the memory distribution of the GITR + Treg and GITR + Tconv. (e) Correlation analyses between GITR expression across different memory subsets in Treg and viral load. CM: central memory, EM: effector memory, TE: terminal effector. N = 11 individuals, 20 HIV responses (10 Nef + 10 p24) and 11 CEF responses. In box plots, boxes extend from Q1 to Q3, horizontal bars within boxes represent median values and whiskers extend from min to max. In bar plots, bar height represents mean. When analyzing differences between CEF and HIV, the Nef and p24 responses were averaged and grouped under the HIV response to obtain the same number of responses as CEF and apply the appropriate statistical test. When analyzing differences within a single response, the full dataset was used. P-values were calculated using the Friedman test for paired samples, followed by Dunn’s post-hoc correction for multiple comparisons. When analyzing global distribution (pies) permutation tests were applied using SPICE software. In all plots, squares represent bulk CD8TCs, circles represent HIV-specific CD8TCs, triangles represent CEF-specific CD8TCs, diamonds represent Treg and hexagons represent Tconv. r and p values were computed by Spearman´s correlation and p-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons using a hypothesis-driven false discovery rate (FDR) procedure, according to the Benjamini and Hochberg method.

Back to article page