NKT cells in HIV-1 infection

• Published in: Cell research Vol. 18; no. 8; pp. 817 - 822
• Main Authors: Li, Demin, Xu, Xiao-Ning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Antigen-Presenting Cells - virology; Antigens, CD1 - metabolism; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Down-Regulation - immunology; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - immunology; HIV-1病毒; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - virology; Life Sciences; Microorganisms; nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - immunology; Recovery of Function - drug effects; Recovery of Function - immunology; review; 爱滋病; 病毒感染; 自然杀伤细胞; HIV-1; CD1d downregulation; NKT cells
• ISSN: 1001-0602; 1748-7838; 1748-7838
• DOI: 10.1038/cr.2008.85

Natural killer T （NKT） cells are a unique T cell population that have important immunoregulatory functions and have been shown to be involved in host immunity against a range of microorganisms. It also emerges that they might play a role in HIV-1 infection, and therefore be selectively depleted during the early stages of infection. Recent studies are reviewed regarding the dynamics of NKT depletion during HIV-1 infection and their recovery under highly active antiretroviral treatment （HAART）. Possible mechanisms for these changes are proposed based on the recent developments in HIV pathogenesis. Further discussions are focused on HIV＇s disruption of NKT activation by downregulating CDld expression on antigen presentation cells （APC）. HIV-1 protein Nefis found to play the major role by interrupting the intracellular trafficking of nascent and recycling CDld molecules.