Higher NK cell IFN-γ production is associated with delayed HIV disease progression in LTNPs

Natural killer (NK) cells are important effectors of the innate immune system that help control viral infections and tumorigenesis. However, the relationship between NK cell function and HIV disease progression remains poorly defined. In this study, we examined the function of NK cells in Chinese patients who were HIV-infected but treatment-naïve. These individuals include primary HIV-infected patients (PHIs), typical progressors (TPs), and long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs). We observed an increase of CD56(dim) NK cells in PHIs, but the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and CD107a expression in PHIs were not altered compared with normal control subjects (NCs). However, the NK cells from LTNPs exhibited increased activities in IFN-γ production, CD107a expression and granzyme B change after K562 stimulation compared with NCs. Furthermore, the percentage of IFN-γ(+)CD107a(-) NK cells in LTNPs was higher than that in TPs, PHIs and NCs; levels of IFN-γ production in LTNP NK cells exhibited an inverse correlation with viral loads. Similar correlations, however, were not observed in the PHI and TP groups. Taken together, these data demonstrate that enhanced NK cell function may contribute to the control of HIV infection, and increased IFN-γ secretion may be associated with delayed disease progression.