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Human natural killer cells in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection
A L Hultström1, B Hejdeman, A C Leandersson
1Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center and Department of Venereology, South Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Objectives:
We evaluated whether DNA immunization with HIV-1 regulatory genes change natural killer (NK) effector cell activity. NK cells are the most important cells for the immediate host defense against virus-infected and tumor cells. We analyzed the NK activities of HIV-1-infected individuals against K562 cells (the classical assay) as well as against a CD4+ cell line with and without HIV-1 infection. CD4+ T lymphocytes are the main target cells for HIV-1 infection in vivo. Various proportions of the CD4+ T lymphocyte population carry the HIV-1 genome, produce virus and contribute to the systemic spread of HIV-1.
Methods:
CD4+ cell lines were established through HTLV-1 transformation which made the cells susceptible to NK lysis. NK activity was then tested in a (51)Cr release assay.
Results:
NK cells of asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals mediated considerable lytic activity against K562 cells as well as against the uninfected and HIV-1-infected CD4+ cell line, and so did the NK cells of HIV-1-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral treatment.
Conclusion:
DNA immunization with HIV-1-regulatory genes did not significantly change the NK effector cell activity.