Natural immunity and HIV disease progression

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Abstract
To investigate the clinical implications of impaired levels of the natural immunity mediated by natural killer (NK) cells and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells during infection with HIV-1. Data used were from 172 individuals with an estimated measure of NK cell activity and 146 with an estimated measure of LAK cell activity. Patients had active HIV infection at the time of enrolment in the study and have been followed-up prospectively for a median of 3.0 years. The lytic activity of NK cells and LAK cells, the CD4 T lymphocyte count, and the concentration of CD16/CD56 NK cells were measured at enrolment. HIV RNA in plasma was measured retrospectively. Survival analysis was performed considering three main endpoints: CD4 cell counts below 100×106 cells/l, clinical AIDS, and death. In unadjusted analysis and after adjustment for age, CD4 T lymphocyte count and plasma HIV RNA at enrolment, low LAK cell activity was significantly associated with higher risk of progression to a CD4 T lymphocyte count 6 The present study suggests that low LAK cell activity and low NK cell responsiveness to interferon-agr; may be important in the pathogenesis of HIV infection.