title: Persistence of pathological distribution of NK cells in HIV-infected patients with prolonged use of HAART and a sustained immune response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective analysis of the distribution of NK subsets and natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKp30/NKp46) in HIV patients with long-term HAART use and sustained virological and immunological response.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main inclusion criteria were: at least 3 years' receipt of HAART; current CD4+ count ≥ 500 cells/mm3; undetectable viral load for at least 24 months; no hepatotropic virus co-infection. Percentages of CD56dim, CD56bright NK cells and CD56neg CD16+ cells were obtained. Expression of the NCRs, NKp30 and NKp46 was analysed in CD56+ cells. Thirty-nine infected patients and sixteen healthy donors were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of total CD56+ and CD56dim NK cells were significantly lower in HIV-infected patients than in healthy donors (70.4 vs. 50.3 and 80.9 vs. 66.1 respectively). The percentage of total CD56+ NK cells expressing NCR receptors was lower in HIV patients than in healthy donors (NKp30: 25.20 vs. 58.63; NKp46: 24.8 vs. 50.59). This was also observed for CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells. Length of time with undetectable HIV viral load was identified as an independent factor associated with higher expression of NKp30 and NKp46.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the prolonged and effective use of HAART, HIV-infected patients do not fully reconstitute the distribution of NK cells. Length of time with an undetectable viral load was related to greater recovery of NKp30/NKp46 receptors.
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Frias
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Rivero-Juarez
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Gordon
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Camacho
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Cantisan
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Cuenca-Lopez
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Torre-Cisneros
authors: Immunology Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Peña
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Córdoba, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Cordoba, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Rivero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D014019:Tissue Donors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055628:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3