Altered phenotype and function of NK cells infiltrating human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated genital warts during HIV infection.
HIV-infected individuals experience more persistent HPV infections and are less likely to resolve genital warts. This study compared phenotype and functions of NK and T cells from genital warts and blood from 67 women. We compared in vitro functional responses of NK and T cells by multiparametric flow cytometry. HIV+ women had significantly lower frequencies of CD4 T cells in warts (p = 0.001) and blood (p = 0.001). While the distribution of NK cell subsets was similar, HIV+ women tended to have lower frequencies of CD56(Dim) NK cells in both blood (p = 0.0001) and warts (p = 0.006) than HIV- women. Wart NK cells from HIV+ women expressed significantly lower CD107a and produced IFN-γ. HAART status was not associated with differences in NK cell functionality. We conclude that wart NK cells from HIV+ women have defects in their ability to degranulate and/or secrete IFN-γ, which may provide insights into why HIV+ women fail to spontaneously resolve genital warts.
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Alfred
A
Bere
Dept. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jalan Taming Sari, Taiping Hospital, Perak, Malaysia.
Shahila
S
Tayib
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Jean-Mari
JM
Kriek
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lindi
L
Masson
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Shameem Z
SZ
Jaumdally
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa.
Shaun L
SL
Barnabas
Department of Biology, Medgar Evers College, The City University of New York, NY, USA.
William H
WH
Carr
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Bruce
B
Allan
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Cape Town, South Africa.
Anna-Lise
AL
Williamson
Dept Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lynette
L
Denny
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: Jo-ann.Passmore@uct.ac.za.
Jo-Ann S
JA
Passmore
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D060085:Coinfection; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D010641:Phenotype; D055815:Young Adult
D007371:Interferon-gamma
Genital warts;; HIV;; HPV;; Mucosal;; NK cells