Differential regulation of killer cell Ig-like receptors and CD94 lectin-like dimers on NK and T lymphocytes from HIV-1-infected individuals.
NK and T lymphocytes share various cell surface receptors, including NK receptors for MHC class I molecules (NKR). NKR include killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIR) and lectin-like dimers which are composed of the invariant CD94 associated with a variety of NKG2 molecules. The combination of KIR and CD94/NKG2 dimers expressed on NK and T cell subsets defines a repertoire of MHC class I recognition. Engagement of NKR by cognate MHC class I molecules governs T and NK cell activation. We investigated the NKR distribution on NK and T cell subsets from uninfected and HIV-infected individuals, according to the clinical status, the absolute numbers of CD4+ T cells as well as the plasmatic viral load of the patients. We show that the KIR distribution on NK cells is not affected by HIV-1 infection, whereas the absolute numbers of T cells expressing specific KIR members (CD158b, p70) transiently increase in early stages of HIV infection. By contrast, the percentages of NK and T cells which express CD94 dimers increase in parallel with the disease. These results document a differential regulation of KIR and CD94 lectin-like dimers during the course of a chronic viral infection in humans and further suggest that both types of NKR are independently regulated.
André
P
P
Centre d'Immunologie INSERM/CNRS de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France.
Brunet
C
C
Guia
S
S
Gallais
H
H
Sampol
J
J
Vivier
E
E
Dignat-George
F
F
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D019281:Dimerization; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C497869:KLRD1 protein, human; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic