T-cell exhaustion, co-stimulation and clinical outcome in autoimmunity and infection

CD8 T-cell exhaustion, although a negative prognostic indicator during persistent infections, is shown to be associated with a good outcome in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. CD8 T-cell exhaustion occurs in chronic viral infections, which inhibits the immune response and facilitates viral persistence. Here Kenneth Smith and colleagues show that, in contrast, CD8 T-cell exhaustion is associated with a good outcome in autoimmune and...