CD8⁺ T cells promote HIV latency by remodeling CD4⁺ T cell metabolism to enhance their survival, quiescence, and stemness

HIV infection persists during antiretroviral therapy (ART) due to a reservoir of latently infected cells that harbor replication-competent virus and evade immunity. Previous ex vivo studies suggested that CD8⁺ T cells from people with HIV may suppress HIV expression via non-cytolytic mechanisms, but the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unclear. Here, we used a primary cell-based in vitro latency model and demonstrated that co-culture of autologous activated CD8⁺ T cells with HIV-infected memory CD4⁺ T cells promoted specific changes in metabolic and/or signaling pathways resulting in increased CD4⁺ T cell survival, quiescence, and stemness. Collectively, these pathways negatively regulated HIV expression and ultimately promoted the establishment of latency. As shown previously, we observed that macrophages, but not B cells, promoted latency in CD4⁺ T cells. The identification of CD8-specific mechanisms of pro-latency activity may favor the development of approaches to eliminate the viral reservoir in people with HIV.