ITGAX and infection: Spatial imaging further revealed ring-like accumulation of CD11c<sup>+</sup> DCs around lesions with adjacent clustering of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells, and ligand-receptor analysis highlighted Thy1-Adgre5 as a prominent DC-T-cell interaction axis.<h4>Conclusions</h4>AE infection drives a transition from acute inflammation to chronic immune regulation through extensive lineage diversification and functional reprogramming of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells.