The pivotal role of CD8+ T cells in hepatitis E virus infection

CD8+ T lymphocytes or cytotoxic T lymphocytes express a range of effector molecules that participate in adaptive host defense and immune memory against pathogens and, upon antigen-dependent stimulation, eliminate infected cells by secreting granzymes and perforins.1 Importantly, divergent outcomes of many viral infections (i.e. HCV; SARS-CoV-2) among individual patients have been linked to differences in virus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses.2,3 Optimal activation and priming of naïve CD8+ T cells requires recognition of distinct viral peptides through the binding of peptide-MHC adducts by T-cell receptors and co-stimulation by molecules of the CD28 family.