Bernstein HB, Wang G, Plasterer MC, Zack JA, Ramasastry P, Mumenthaler SM, Kitchen CMR. CD4+ NK cells can be productively infected with HIV, leading to downregulation of CD4 expression and changes in function.
Virology 2009;
387:59-66. [PMID:
19251297 DOI:
10.1016/j.virol.2009.01.044]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2008] [Revised: 11/19/2008] [Accepted: 01/23/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
NK cells mediate the innate immune response, and HIV-infected individuals demonstrate altered NK cell phenotype and function. We find that CD4+ NK cells are susceptible to HIV infection; this could account for the NK cell dysfunction seen in HIV-infected individuals. CD4+ NK cells express CXCR4 and can be infected with X4-tropic viruses and some primary R5-utilizing viral isolates. Treatment with the CXCR4 ligands AMD3100 and SDF-1alpha partially blocks infection with X4-tropic virus, treatment with anti-CCL Igs upregulates CCR5 surface expression and enables infection with HIV-Bal. HIV infection of NK cells results in CD4 downregulation and the production of infectious virus. HIV-infected CD4+ NK cells mediate NK cell cytotoxicity, however, HIV infection is associated with decreased chemotaxis towards IL-16. Thus, HIV infection of CD4+ NK cells could account for the NK cell dysfunction observed in HIV-infected individuals. Furthermore infected NK cells could serve as a viral reservoir of HIV in vivo.
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