Open AccessNatural killer cell phenotype is altered in HIV-exposed seronegative women
Author(s) -
Nancy Q. Zhao,
Elena Vendrame,
Anne-Maud Ferreira,
Christof Seiler,
Thanmayi Ranganath,
Michel Alary,
AnnieClaude Labbé,
Fernand Guédou,
Johanne Poudrier,
Susan Holmes,
Michel Roger,
Catherine A. Blish
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0238347
Subject(s) - cd16 , antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity , flow cytometry , immunology , phenotype , natural killer cell , biology , mass cytometry , cell , antibody , cytotoxicity , immune system , in vitro , cd3 , gene , genetics , monoclonal antibody , cd8
Highly exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals present a unique setting to study mechanisms of protection against HIV acquisition. As natural killer (NK) cell activation and function have been implicated as a correlate of protection in HESN individuals, we sought to better understand the features of NK cells that may confer protection. We used mass cytometry to phenotypically profile NK cells from a cohort of Beninese sex workers and healthy controls. We found that NK cells from HESN women had increased expression of NKG2A, NKp30 and LILRB1, as well as the Fc receptor CD16, and decreased expression of DNAM-1, CD94, Siglec-7, and NKp44. Using functional assessments of NK cells from healthy donors against autologous HIV-infected CD4 + T cells, we observed that NKp30 + and Siglec-7 + cells had improved functional activity. Further, we found that NK cells from HESN women trended towards increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity; this activity correlated with increased CD16 expression. Overall, we identify features of NK cells in HESN women that may contribute to protection from HIV infection. Follow up studies with larger cohorts are warranted to confirm these findings.