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Human cytomegalovirus infection is associated with increased proportions of NK cells that express the CD94/NKG2C receptor in aviremic HIV-1-positive patients.

Gumá M, Cabrera C, Erkizia I, Bofill M, Clotet B, Ruiz L, López-Botet M

Molecular Immunopathology Unit, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.

In healthy blood donors, serological positivity for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is associated with an increased proportion of NK cells bearing the CD94/NKG2C NK cell receptor (NKR). The expression of the activating CD94/NKG2C NKR and of the inhibitory CD94/NKG2A NKR was studied in a cohort of 45 aviremic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. The proportions of NKG2C+ NK cells were significantly increased in HIV-1-positive patients (mean +/- SD, 25.9% +/- 23.0%), compared with those in 31 healthy individuals (mean +/- SD, 16.1% +/- 20.7%). Yet, the association vanished when HCMV serological status was considered in a multivariate regression model. These results support the conclusion that changes in the NKR repertoire in HIV1-positive patients are related to a concomitant HCMV infection.

Published 2 June 2006 in J Infect Dis, 194(1): 38-41.
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