Abstract
The T cell Ig- and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) negative immune checkpoint receptor demarcates functionally exhausted CD8+ T cells arising from chronic stimulation in viral infections like HIV. Tim-3 blockade leads to improved antiviral CD8+ T cell responses in vitro, therefore, represents a novel intervention strategy to restore T cell function in vivo and protect from disease progression. However, the Tim-3 pathway in the physiologically relevant rhesus macaque SIV model of AIDS remains uncharacterized. We report that Tim-3+CD8+ T cell frequencies are significantly increased in lymph nodes, but not in peripheral blood, in SIV-infected animals. Tim-3+PD-1+CD8+ T cells are similarly increased during SIV infection and positively correlate with SIV plasma viremia. Tim-3 expression was found primarily on effector memory CD8+ T cells in all tissues examined. Tim-3+CD8+ T cells have lower Ki-67 content and minimal cytokine responses to SIV compared with Tim-3-CD8+ T cells. During acute-phase SIV replication, Tim-3 expression peaked on SIV-specific CD8+ T cells by 2 wk postinfection and then rapidly diminished, irrespective of mutational escape of cognate Ag, suggesting non-TCR-driven mechanisms for Tim-3 expression. Thus, rhesus Tim-3 in SIV infection partially mimics human Tim-3 in HIV infection and may serve as a novel model for targeted studies focused on rejuvenating HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 5576-5583 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Immunology |
Volume | 193 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2014 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology