title: Loss of CCR7 expression on CD56(bright) NK cells is associated with a CD56(dim)CD16⁺ NK cell-like phenotype and correlates with HIV viral load.
abstract: NK cells are pivotal sentinels of the innate immune system and distinct subpopulations in peripheral blood have been described. A number of studies addressed HIV-induced alterations of NK cell phenotype and functionality mainly focusing on CD56(dim)CD16⁺ and CD56⁻CD16⁺ NK cells. However, the impact of HIV-infection on CD56(bright) NK cells is less well understood. Here we report a rise of CD56(bright) NK cells in HIV-infected individuals, which lack CCR7-expression and strongly correlate with HIV viral load. CCR7⁻CD56(bright) NK cells were characterized by increased cytolytic potential, higher activation states and a more differentiated phenotype. These cells thus acquired a number of features of CD56(dim)CD16⁺ NK cells. Furthermore, CD56(bright) NK cells from HIV patients exhibited higher degranulation levels compared to uninfected individuals. Thus, chronic HIV-infection is associated with a phenotypic and functional shift of CD56(bright) NK cells, which provides a novel aspect of HIV-associated pathogenesis within the NK cell compartment.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Immunologie und Rheumatologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Henoch S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Fareed
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: Nupur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bollmann
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keudel
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballmaier
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zielinska-Skowronek
authors.forename: Reinhold E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meyer-Olson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D017452:Receptors, IgG