title: Distribution of the natural killer-related receptor for HLA-C during highly active antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Receptors interacting with Major Histocompatibility Complex class I molecules have been initially found on the surface of human natural killer (NK) cells, where they deliver inhibitory signals to the lysis, being thus defined killer inhibitory receptors (KIR). Subsequently, they were detected also on the surface of T-CD8(+) lymphocytes and are particularly expanded during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, where they downregulate HIV-specific cytolysis. The expression of KIR recognizing human leukocyte antigen-C alleles was assessed in HIV-infected patients, undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). To this end, the combined expression of CD16/CD56, of CD3 and CD8 as well as of KIR (CD158a and CD158b) surface molecules was analyzed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells by monoclonal antibodies, and flow cytometry. An increase of CD3(+)CD8(+)CD158b(+) cells was found after 6 months of HAART. This finding may have implications for the regulation of T-cell mediated cytolysis during HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. sirianni@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sirianni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ensoli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alario
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iebba
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezzaroma
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aiuti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D054344:Receptors, KIR2DL3