Autologous cytotoxicity of natural killer cells derived from HIV-infected patients.
NK cells recognize target cells with reduced expression of MHC class I molecules. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection decreases MHC class I on the cell membrane. The aim of this study was to directly evaluate the role and conditions of NK cell effects in HIV seropositive patients ex vivo. Autologous HIV-infected CD4+ T cells were exposed to NK cells recognition. We discovered an increased lysis of the target cells after infection with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The expression of the HIV-1 nef gene or the combined expression of nef and tat confers NK susceptibility to autologous CD4+ targets. Downregulation of MHC class I but not HLA-C or CD4 correlated with increased recognition by NK cells. The specific recognition is correlated with downregulation of MHC class I molecules on the infected target cells.
Hultström
Anna Linda
AL
Department of Virology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Karolinska Institute, Solna.
Bratt
Göran
G
Cosma
Antonio
A
Erfle
Volker
V
Wahren
Britta
B
Carbone
Ennio
E
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D006680:HLA Antigens