title: Analysis of natural killer (NK) cell subsets defined by the expression of two novel surface antigens (EB6 and GL183) in AIDS and AIDS-related conditions.
abstract: In this study we analyzed the expression of EB6 and GL183, which are part of P58 molecular family that represents the putative NK receptor for MHC class I molecules, in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 60 patients with HIV infection (20 asymptomatic HIV-seropositive individuals, 20 patients with constitutional symptoms, and 20 AIDS patients) and correlated it with the level of CD4+, CD56+ cells, and the NK cell activity in order to determine a possible relation with disease progression. The absolute number (but not the percentage) of CD56+, EB6+, and GL183+ cells was significantly reduced only in AIDS patients but not in the other AIDS-related clinical conditions. On the contrary, NK cell activity was reduced in all HIV-infected patients. In a 6-month follow-up, patients with constant clinical conditions and stable CD4+ cells level showed no significant difference, either in the percentage or absolute number of EB6+ and GL183+ cells. Interestingly, dual-color fluorescence indicates that GL183 and EB6 molecules (that in normal individuals are virtually absent on CD3- NK cells) are expressed in HIV-infected individuals not only in CD56+ cells but also in CD3+ cells. This may reflect a depletion of other T cell subsets or alternatively (less likely) a specific immune response. Our data indicate that the expression of EB6 and GL183 in T and NK cells from HIV-infected patients might be relevant in the course of the disease and for the disease-associated functional defect of NK cell activity.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Malattie Infettive, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cauda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goletti
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tumbarello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rumi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Orengo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface