HIV-1-specific T Cell-dependent natural killer (NK) cell activation: major contribution by NK cells to interferon-gamma production in response to HIV-1 antigens.
Natural killer (NK) cells can directly recognize virus-infected cells. Here, we demonstrate that NK cells also produce interferon (IFN)-gamma in an HIV-1-specific, T cell-dependent manner. After stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV-1-infected individuals with HIV-1-derived peptides, up to half of the IFN-gamma-producing PBMCs are NK cells. These results indicate that T cell-dependent NK cell IFN-gamma production can be important for immune control of HIV-1, and have implications for the interpretation of data from vaccine trials using ELISPOT and ELISA.
Loo
Christopher P
CP
Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Long
Brian R
BR
Hecht
Frederick M
FM
Nixon
Douglas F
DF
Michaëlsson
Jakob
J
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015488:HIV Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma