Invariant NKT cells from HIV-1 or Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected patients express an activated phenotype.
The frequency, subsets and activation status of peripheral blood invariant NKT (iNKT) cells were evaluated in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and in chronically HIV-1-infected subjects. The absolute numbers of iNKT cells were significantly decreased in TB patients and in HIV-1+ individuals who were antiretroviral therapy naive or had detectable viremia despite receiving HAART. iNKT cell subset analysis demonstrated a decreased percentage of CD4(+) iNKT cells in HIV-1+ subjects, and a decreased percentage of double negative iNKT cells in TB patients. Peripheral blood iNKT cells from HIV-1+ and TB patients had significantly increased expression of CD69, CD38, HLA-DR, CD16, CD56, and CD62L. The expression of CD25 was significantly increased only on iNKT cells from TB patients. These findings indicate that peripheral blood iNKT cells in these two chronic infections show an up-regulated expression of activation markers, suggesting their role in the immune response to infection.
Montoya
Carlos J
CJ
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. cjmonto@une.net.co
Cataño
Juan C
JC
Ramirez
Zoraida
Z
Rugeles
Maria T
MT
Wilson
S Brian
SB
Landay
Alan L
AL
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens