Elevated levels of iNKT cell and NK cell activation correlate with disease progression in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections

Summary, in English

OBJECTIVE:: In this study we aimed to investigate the frequency and activation of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and natural killer (NK) cells among HIV-1, HIV-2, or dually HIV-1/HIV-2 (HIV-D)-infected individuals, in relation to markers of disease progression. DESIGN:: Whole blood samples were collected from treatment-naïve HIV-1 (n?=?23), HIV-2 (n?=?34) and HIV-D (n?=?11) infected individuals, as well as HIV-seronegative controls (n?=?25), belonging to an occupational cohort in Guinea-Bissau. METHODS:: Frequencies and activation levels of iNKT and NK cell subsets were analysed using multi-colour flow cytometry and results were related to HIV-status, CD4+ T cell levels, viral load, and T cell activation. RESULTS:: HIV-1, HIV-D, and viremic HIV-2 individuals had lower numbers of CD4+ iNKT cells in circulation compared to seronegative controls. Numbers of CD56 NK cells were also reduced in HIV-infected individuals as compared to control subjects. Notably, iNKT cell and NK cell activation levels, assessed by CD38 expression, were increased in HIV-1 and HIV-2 single, as well as dual, infections. HIV-2 viremia was associated with elevated activation levels in CD4+ iNKT cells, CD56 and CD56 NK cells, as compared to aviremic HIV-2 infection. Additionally, disease markers such as CD4+ T cell percentages, viral load, and CD4+ T cell activation were associated with CD38 expression levels of both iNKT and NK cells, which activation levels also correlated with each other. CONCLUSIONS:: Our data indicate that elevated levels of iNKT cell and NK cell activation are associated with viremia and disease progression markers in both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections.

• Författare: Susanna M. Bächle; David F G Malone; Marcus Buggert; Annika C. Karlsson; Per Erik Isberg; Antonio J. Biague; Hans Norrgren; Patrik Medstrand; Markus Moll; Johan K. Sandberg; Marianne Jansson
• Avdelning/ar: Statistiska institutionen; Infektionsmedicin; Klinisk virologi, Malmö; Matematisk statistik; Institutionen för laboratoriemedicin; Avdelningen för medicinsk mikrobiologi; HIV-1 och HIV-2 värd interaktioner
• Publiceringsår: 2016-07
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 1713-1722
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: AIDS
• Volym: 30
• Issue: 11
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000001147
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Ämne: Infectious Medicine
• Status: Published
• Forskningsgrupp: Clinical Virology, Malmö; HIV-1 and HIV-2 host interactions
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 0269-9370