title: Transitory expansion of a CD3+TcR gamma/delta+CD16+ lymphocytic population in two patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection and high levels of natural killer activity.
abstract: In the present study, we describe an expansion of CD16+ cells with a CD3+ TcR gamma/delta+ phenotype, in the presence of normal numbers of "classic" CD3-CD16+ natural killer (NK) cells, in two patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in late stage. The NK activity of the two subjects was substantially higher then that of HIV+ subjects in the same stage of infection. A second evaluation of one of the patients showed levels of NK activity consistent with the clinical stage of HIV infection, concomitant with a remarkable reduction in the percentage of double-positive CD3/TcR gamma/delta cells. The number of CD16+ cells also reached values comparable to those of the control group. In conclusion, we have identified a population of CD3+TcR gamma/delta+CD16+ cells that have the capability to lyse an NK-sensitive target in two patients with unusually high levels of NK activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tambussi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Albarello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bisson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D017452:Receptors, IgG