title: Reconstitution of NK cell activity in HIV-1 infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: We studied natural immunity mediated by natural killer (NK) cells in 62 HIV-1 infected individuals, 54 HIV-1 infected individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for more than one year and 8 HIV-1 infected individuals without antiretroviral therapy. 22 individuals had a complete suppression of viral replication characterized by viral load values <50 copies/ml, whereas 32 individuals presented with persistent viral replication. The 8 untreated patients had an indication to start antiretroviral treatment. Lytic activity of NK cells was measured in a 51chromium release assay. In patients with persistent viral replication under HAART NK cell activity was significantly decreased compared to patients with effective control of HIV viremia. Patients with complete suppression of HIV replication displayed a similar NK activity to healthy control persons. Differences in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were not observed. Further studies will investigate whether decreased NK cell activity is a reason for or the consequence of persistent viral replication.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Klinische Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grosse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heiken
mesh_terms: D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*