High expression of CD38 and MHC class II on CD8 ⁺ T cells during severe influenza disease reflects bystander activation and trogocytosis

Abstract

Overall, our study demonstrates that both virus-specific and bystander CD38⁺MHC-II⁺ CD8⁺ T cells are recruited to the site of infection during severe disease, and that MHC-II presence occurs via trogocytosis from antigen-presenting cells. Our findings highlight the importance of the CD38⁺MHC-II⁺ phenotype for CD8⁺ T-cell recall.