CD56negCD16+NK cells are activated mature NK cells with impaired effector function during HIV-1 infection

• Published in: Retrovirology Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 158
• Main Authors: Milush, Jeffrey M, López-Vergès, Sandra, York, Vanessa A, Deeks, Steven G, Martin, Jeffrey N, Hecht, Frederick M, Lanier, Lewis L, Nixon, Douglas F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18.12.2013; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Antigens, CD7 - analysis; Care and treatment; CD56 Antigen - analysis; Diagnosis; Fc receptors; GPI-Linked Proteins - analysis; Granzymes - biosynthesis; Healthy Volunteers; HIV infection; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV-1 - immunology; Humans; Interferon-gamma - secretion; Killer cells; Killer Cells, Natural - chemistry; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 - analysis; Patient outcomes; Perforin - biosynthesis; Physiological aspects; Receptors, IgG - analysis; Risk factors; United States
• ISSN: 1742-4690; 1742-4690
• DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-10-158

A subset of CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16⁺ Natural Killer (NK) cells is highly expanded during chronic HIV-1 infection. The role of this subset in HIV-1 pathogenesis remains unclear. The lack of NK cell lineage-specific markers has complicated the study of minor NK cell subpopulations. Using CD7 as an additional NK cell marker, we found that CD3(neg)CD56(neg)CD16⁺ cells are a heterogeneous population comprised of CD7⁺ NK cells and CD7(neg) non-classical myeloid cells. CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells are significantly expanded in HIV-1 infection. CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells are mature and express KIRs, the C-type lectin-like receptors NKG2A and NKG2C, and natural cytotoxicity receptors similar to CD7⁺CD56⁺CD16⁺ NK cells. CD7⁺CD56(neg) NK cells in healthy donors produced minimal IFNγ following K562 target cell or IL-12 plus IL-18 stimulation; however, they degranulated in response to K562 stimulation similar to CD7⁺CD56⁺ NK cells. HIV-1 infection resulted in reduced IFNγ secretion following K562 or cytokine stimulation by both NK cell subsets compared to healthy donors. Decreased granzyme B and perforin expression and increased expression of CD107a in the absence of stimulation, particularly in HIV-1-infected subjects, suggest that CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells may have recently engaged target cells. Furthermore, CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells have significantly increased expression of CD95, a marker of NK cell activation. Taken together, CD7⁺CD56(neg)CD16⁺ NK cells are activated, mature NK cells that may have recently engaged target cells.