Short Communication: Natural killer cells and expression of KIR receptors in chronic HIV type 1-infected patients after different strategies of structured therapy interruption.

Abstract Few data evaluating the NK cell profile during structured therapy interruption (STI) in chronic HIV-1 infection are available. Changes in NK cell percentages and KIR and NKG2A receptors were analyzed at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up in 121 patients on ART with CD4+ >450 cells/ml and VL 30,000 copies/ml or CD4 <350 cells/ml), immunological arm (IA n = 37, CD4< 350 cells/ml), and a control arm (n = 37) in which ART was maintained. After 2 years of follow-up, a decrease in CD3−CD56+ CD16+ cell percentages in VA and IA patients, but not in CA patients, was observed. Those patients with higher decrease in CD3−CD56+CD16+ cells had a higher decrease in CD4+ cells (r = 0.35, p = 0.001) and higher increase in PVL (r = −0.26, p = 0.02). KIR and NKG2A receptor expression tended to increase in CA and decreased in the other two arms (more in IA than in VA). Patients wh...