CD8+ cells can suppress human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) replication by releasing soluble factors. In 26 years of intensive research efforts, the identity of the major CD8+ cell antiviral factor has remained elusive. To investigate the mechanism for this antiviral immune response, we performed gene expression analyses on primary CD4+ cells that were exposed to HIV-suppressing CD8+ cells or CD8+ cell-conditioned medium having HIV-suppressing activity. These experiments revealed increased levels of multiple genes stimulated by type I interferons (IFN; eg, IFN-α and IFN-β). Further evaluation revealed that primary CD8+ cells, particularly those from elite controllers and other asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals, secrete IFN, and this response directly contributes to the in vitro suppression of HIV replication in CD4+ cells. This novel immune response, likely mediated by memory CD8+ T cells, may play an important role in a wide variety of viral infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases.
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