HIV-specific TĀ cells have diminished effector function and fail to control/eliminate the virus. IL-27, a member of the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine superfamily has been shown to inhibit HIV replication. Howeve Show more
HIV-specific TĀ cells have diminished effector function and fail to control/eliminate the virus. IL-27, a member of the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine superfamily has been shown to inhibit HIV replication. However, whether or not IL-27 can enhance HIV-specific TĀ cell function is largely unknown. In the present manuscript, we investigated the role of IL-27 signaling in human TĀ cells by evaluating the global transcriptional changes related to the function of HIV-specific TĀ cells. We found that TĀ cells from people living with HIV (PLWH), expressed higher levels of STAT1 leading to enhanced STAT1 activation upon IL-27 stimulation. Observed IL-27 induced transcriptional changes were associated with IFN/STAT1-dependent pathways in CD4 and CD8 TĀ cells. Importantly, IL-27 dependent modulation of T-bet expression promoted IFNĪ³ secretion by TIGIT Show less