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CD56dim NK Cell is an Important Factor in T Cell Depletion of cART-Treated AIDS Patients

Feng Qian1,2,3, Song Hu4, Yueping Zhu2,3

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, People's Republic of China.

International Journal of General Medicine
|May 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Poor immune reconstitution in HIV-1 patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is linked to reduced red blood cells and lymphocytes, elevated PD-1 expression, and over-activated NK cells. These factors offer insights for improving immune recovery strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is standard for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) management.
  • T-cell depletion remains a concern in some cART-treated HIV-1 patients, impacting immune reconstitution.
  • Understanding factors contributing to poor immune reconstitution is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate factors associated with T-cell depletion in HIV-1-positive patients undergoing cART.
  • To identify potential indicators of poor immune reconstitution.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry was used to analyze CD4+, CD8+ T cell subsets, and CD56dim NK cells in 29 HIV-1-positive patients.
  • Cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  • Viral load was quantified using the Roche Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 test.

Main Results:

  • Patients with inadequate immune reconstitution (INR) showed reduced red blood cells (RBCs) and lymphocytes (LCs) compared to immune-reconstituted (IR) patients, with a positive correlation between RBCs and LCs.
  • INR patients exhibited lower T-cell cytokine production but markedly elevated programmed death-1 (PD-1) expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
  • Increased proportion and killing ability of CD56dim NK cells were observed in INR patients, correlating with T-lymphocyte apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Poor immune reconstitution in HIV-1 patients may stem from bone marrow suppression, high PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells, and over-activated T and NK cells.
  • NK cell activity and RBC counts may serve as valuable auxiliary indicators for assessing immune reconstitution.
  • These findings can guide strategies to enhance immune reconstitution in HIV-1-positive individuals.
Abstract

Keywords:
AIDSCD56dim NK cellsT-cellsantiretroviral therapyimmune reconstitution

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