title: Could natural killer cells compensate for impaired CD4+ T-cell responses to CMV in HIV patients responding to antiretroviral therapy?
abstract: We evaluated NK cell subsets and functions in previously immunodeficient HIV patients responding to ART. Cytokine receptor mRNA was quantitated in purified CD56+ cells. Data were correlated with CD4+ T-cell counts and IFNgamma responses to CMV. NK cell IFNgamma responses to K562 cells and proportions of CD56lo NK cells were correlated in patients (p < 0.001) and both were lower than in controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively), so all patients had poor NK cell function. Proportions of CD56hi NK cells correlated inversely with current CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.006) and perforin expression in CD56hi NK cells was higher in patients than controls (p < 0.05). Hence increased proportions and cytolytic function of CD56hi NK cells may partially compensate for CD4+ T-cell deficiency. NK cell IFNgamma responses correlated inversely with expression of IL-10 and IL-12 receptor mRNA. Expression of these transcripts is reduced by exposure to the cytokines, which may reflect immune activation in immunodeficient patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Dino Bee Aik
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D054353:Perforin; D007371:Interferon-gamma