Differential production of IFN-?, analyzed at the single-cell level, by specific subsets of human NK and T cells from healthy and HIV+ subjects

Dendritic and Natural Killer Cell Subsets Associated with Stable or Declining CD4+Cell Counts in Treated HIV‐1–Infected Children

“…In adults, we and others [22,23,25,[44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] have demonstrated that numbers of NK cells are reduced during the course of HIV infection, with an inverse correlation with the stage of disease. Some NK cell functions (e.g., cytotoxicity) are reconstituted on viral suppression, whereas others remain impaired (e.g., cytokine-induced IFN-g production) [22].…”

Influence of GB virus C on IFN-γ and IL-2 production and CD38 expression in T lymphocytes from chronically HIV-infected and HIV-HCV-co-infected patients

“…Stimulation with PMA and ionomycin triggers a strong production of cytokines in vitro and is often used to evaluate immune responses when specific stimulation is not feasible because of the capacity of these stimuli to amplify the profile of the responses seen in vivo (Vitale et al 2000, Eylar et al 2001. In the present study, we found increased production of IFN-γ and IL-2 after nonspecific stimulation with PMA and ionomycin, demonstrating that the capacity to respond with synthesis of type-1 cytokines is preserved in these patients; however, no differences in the production of cytokines by TCD4, TCD8 and Tγδ cells were observed in patients with different infection profiles, regardless of the presence of GBV-C viremia or E2 antibodies.…”

Sustained Impairment of IFN-γ Secretion in Suppressed HIV-Infected Patients Despite Mature NK Cell Recovery: Evidence for a Defective Reconstitution of Innate Immunity

“…IFN-␥ secretion by NK cells also contributes to adaptive type 1 responses, via IFN-␥ priming for IL-12 production by APC (4) associated with type 1 T cell differentiation (19 -22). Although a decrease in type 1 responses in AIDS patients is associated with reduced serological levels of IFN-␥ (23) and decreased IFN-␥ secretion by activated NK and T cells (24,25), it remains undetermined to what extent IFN-␥-secreting NK cell subsets decrease in frequency, and whether or not they increase following suppressive therapy, as shown for T cell IFN-␥ responses (25). Studies that have addressed recovery of NK subsets following antiretroviral therapy have largely focused on changes of frequency of mature NK phenotypes and cytotoxicity (26 -32).…”