Natural killer cells in HIV -1 infection: Role of NK cell-mediated non-cytolytic mechanisms in pathogenesis of HIV -1 infection

Abstract

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">Natural killer (NK) cells exhibit both cytolytic and non-cytolytic effector functions against HIV-infected targets. Their precise rule in immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 infection is, yet to be fully understood. This review addresses the non-cytolytic function, exhibited by NK cells. their pote ntial role in patthogenesis of HIV-1 infection and the effect of HIV-1 viremia on N K cell functions. Activated N K cells are capable of secreting CC-che mokines and suppressing HIV-1 replication in a non cytolitic fashion. However, HIV -1 viremia suppresses the ability of NK cells to secrete CC-chemokines. Suppression of HIV-1 viremia by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) restores the ability of NK cells to secrete CC-chemokines and suppress endoge nous HIV-1 replication by non-cytolytic mechanisms. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved in HIV-1-NK cell interactions would be helpful in delineating novel therapeutic strategies against HIV -1.</span>