Induction of apoptosis-resistant and TGF-β-insensitive murine CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for HIV-1 gp160

► TGF-β and IL-6 turned CD8+ T cells to differentiate into non-cytotoxic state. ► In vitro antigen re-exposure conferred strong cytotoxicity to these CD8+ T cells. ► Induced CTLs were not only resistant to apoptosis but also insensitive to TGF-β. ► Those CTLs also showed robust anti-viral effects in vivo when adoptively transferred. ► TGF-β and IL-6 may be critical for inducing such unique CD8+ CTLs in vitro.