Differences in natural killer cell quantification and receptor profile expression in HIV-1 infected Chinese children

• Published in: Cellular immunology 2010, Vol.265 (1), p.37-43
• Main Authors: Fu, Geng-Feng, Chen, Xu, Hao, Sha, Zhao, Jun-Li, Hu, Hai-Yang, Yang, Hai-Tao, Xu, Xiao-Qin, Qiu, Tao, Li, Lei, Xu, Jin-Shui, Liu, Xiao-Yan, Huan, Xi-Ping, Hou, Ya-Yi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Child; Child, Preschool; China; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - immunology; Female; Flow Cytometry; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV-1; HIV-1 - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Interleukin-12 - blood; Interleukin-18 - blood; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Male; Mother-to-child transmission; NK cell; Receptor; Receptors, Natural Killer Cell - immunology; Viral Load - immunology
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2010.06.011

Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to play a role in the progression of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) disease, and NK cell levels are reduced in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. To assess the effects on quantity of NK cells and the changes of NK cell receptors in HIV-1 infected children via mother-to-child transmission, the percentage of NK cells is quantified and the changes in the NK cell receptor profiles in 20 HIV-1 infected children who are not progressing into AIDS were examined. The results showed that NK cell percentage was decreased in the HIV-1 infected children. The expression of NKp30 on NK cells was increased, while the expressions of CD16, NKp44, NKp46, NKp80, NTB-A, CD244, KIR2D, KIR3DL1 and NKG2D on NK cells were decreased in the HIV-1 infected children. NK cell cytolytic activity was elevated in HIV-1 infected children. These results indicate that the acute changes in NK cell percentage and NK cell receptors in HIV-1 infected children are different from the HIV-1 infected adult individuals. Moreover, serum concentrations of IL-18 were elevated in HIV-infected children compared to HIV-uninfected controls. These differences probably play a role in protecting against transmission of maternal HIV-1 virus and guiding the therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 infected children.