The IL-2ic-stimulated expansion of the Foxp3+ Treg cell population profoundly interfered with generation and maintenance of gp33-specific CD8+ T cells, CD62L downregulation, and their capacity to produce IFN-γ and TNF-α as measured in spleen and liver at days 15, 30, and 65 post infection (Figure 5D–G, and Figure S2), which is reminiscent of the state of exhaustion that usually coincides with viral persistence in high dose LCMV-DOC infection. Here, FOXP3 is linked to infection.