Human cytomegalovirus infection is associated with increased proportions of NK cells that express the CD94/NKG2C receptor in aviremic HIV-1-positive patients.
In healthy blood donors, serological positivity for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is associated with an increased proportion of NK cells bearing the CD94/NKG2C NK cell receptor (NKR). The expression of the activating CD94/NKG2C NKR and of the inhibitory CD94/NKG2A NKR was studied in a cohort of 45 aviremic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. The proportions of NKG2C+ NK cells were significantly increased in HIV-1-positive patients (mean +/- SD, 25.9% +/- 23.0%), compared with those in 31 healthy individuals (mean +/- SD, 16.1% +/- 20.7%). Yet, the association vanished when HCMV serological status was considered in a multivariate regression model. These results support the conclusion that changes in the NKR repertoire in HIV1-positive patients are related to a concomitant HCMV infection.
Gumá
Monica
M
Molecular Immunopathology Unit, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
Cabrera
Cecilia
C
Erkizia
Itziar
I
Bofill
Margarita
M
Clotet
Bonaventura
B
Ruiz
Lidia
L
López-Botet
Miguel
M
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527059:KLRC2 protein, human; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell