NK Cell Killing of HIV-Infected T Cells
Author Information
Author(s): Fogli Manuela, Mavilio Domenico, Brunetta Enrico, Varchetta Stefania, Ata Khaled, Roby Gregg, Kovacs Colin, Follmann Dean, Pende Daniela, Ward Jeffrey, Barker Edward, Marcenaro Emanuela, Moretta Alessandro, Fauci Anthony S.
Primary Institution: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Hypothesis
Does high HIV-1 viremia interfere with NK cell-mediated cytolysis of autologous, endogenously HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells?
Conclusion
The study shows that NK cells from HIV-1 infected viremic patients have a low ability to kill endogenously HIV-1 infected CD4+ T cell blasts.
Supporting Evidence
- NK cells from HIV-1 infected viremic patients display a variable although generally low ability to lyse endogenously HIV-1 infected autologous CD4+ T cell blasts.
- The selective down-modulation of HLA-A and -B molecules makes p24pos/CD4neg cell blasts susceptible to autologous NK cell-mediated lysis.
- Decreased NK cell expression of NCRs contributes to the low level of NK cell cytolytic activity.
- The high frequency of dysfunctional CD56neg NK cell subsets correlates with low NK cell-mediated killing of HIV-1 infected cells.
Takeaway
This study found that the body's natural killer cells, which help fight infections, struggle to kill HIV-infected cells in people with high levels of the virus.
Methodology
The study involved stimulating primary CD4+ T cells from HIV-1 infected patients with PHA and rIL-2 to expand and isolate endogenously infected CD4+ T cell blasts.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in patient selection and the effects of prior treatments were not fully addressed.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable to all HIV-infected individuals due to the specific patient population studied.
Participant Demographics
Participants were HIV-1 infected viremic individuals with a median CD4+ T cell count of 373 cells per ml.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.003
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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