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

Abstract

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 HIV-1-positive patients are related to a concomitant HCMV infection. © 2006 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.