title: A Higher Frequency of NKG2A+ than of NKG2A- NK Cells Responds to Autologous HIV-Infected CD4 Cells irrespective of Whether or Not They Coexpress KIR3DL1.
abstract: Epidemiological and functional studies implicate NK cells in HIV control. However, there is little information available on which NK cell populations, as defined by the inhibitory NK cell receptors (iNKRs) they express, respond to autologous HIV-infected CD4(+) (iCD4) T cells. NK cells acquire antiviral functions through education, which requires signals received from iNKRs, such as NKG2A and KIR3DL1 (here, 3DL1), engaging their ligands. NKG2A interacts with HLA-E, and 3DL1 interacts with HLA-A/B antigens expressing the Bw4 epitope. HIV-infected cells downregulate HLA-A/B, which should interrupt negative signaling through 3DL1, leading to NK cell activation, provided there is sufficient engagement of activating NKRs. We examined the functionality of NK cells expressing or not NKG2A and 3DL1 stimulated by HLA-null and autologous iCD4 cells. Flow cytometry was used to gate on each NKG2A(+)/NKG2A(-) 3DL1(+)/3DL1(-) (NKG2A(+/-) 3DL1(+/-)) population and to measure the frequency of all possible combinations of CD107a expression and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and CCL4 secretion. The highest frequency of functional NK cells responding to HLA-null cell stimulation was the NKG2A(+) 3DL1(+) NK cell population. The highest frequencies of functional NK cells responding to autologous iCD4 cells were those expressing NKG2A; coexpression of 3DL1 did not further modulate responsiveness. This was the case for the functional subsets characterized by the sum of all functions tested (total responsiveness), as well as by the trifunctional CD107a(+) IFN-γ(+) CCL4(+), CD107a(+) IFN-γ(+), total CD107a(+), and total IFN-γ(+) functional subsets. These results indicate that the NKG2A receptor has a role in NK cell-mediated anti-HIV responses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  HIV-infected CD4 (iCD4) cells activate NK cells, which then control HIV replication. However, little is known regarding which NK cell populations iCD4 cells stimulate to develop antiviral activity. Here, we examine the frequency of NK cell populations, defined by the presence/absence of the NK cell receptors (NKRs) NKG2A and 3DL1, that respond to iCD4 cells. NKG2A and 3DL1 are involved in priming NK cells for antiviral functions upon encountering virus-infected cells. A higher frequency of NKG2A(+) than NKG2A(-) NK cells responded to iCD4 cells by developing antiviral functions such as CD107a expression, which correlates with NK cell killing, and secretion of gamma interferon and CCL4. Coexpression of 3DL1 on the NKG2A(+) and NKG2A(-) NK cells did not modulate responses to iCD4 cells. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the interaction of NK cells with iCD4 cells that lead to HIV control may contribute to developing strategies that harness NK cells for preventing or controlling HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lisovsky
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isitman
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Rujun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Sandrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DaFonseca
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tremblay-McLean
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lebouché
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Hematology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Routy
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruneau
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Division of Clinical Immunology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada nicole.bernard@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Nicole F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D001324:Autoantigens; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006720:Homozygote; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008024:Ligands; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054341:Receptors, KIR3DL1 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D006680:HLA Antigens; C515083:KIR3DL1 protein, human; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; D008024:Ligands; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D054341:Receptors, KIR3DL1