Natural Killer Cells That Respond to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Peptides Are Associated with Control of HIV-1 Infection

HIV-specific NK (CD3-negative cells), CD4 and CD8 T cellular responses were determined in 79 HIV-1 infected women in response to HIV-1 peptide pools (Gag, Pol, Nef, Reg, Env) with use of a whole blood intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay that measures IFN-γ and/or IL-2. HIV-specific CD3-negative responses to any region (Env and Reg predominantly targeted) were associated with lower viral load (P=0.031) and higher CD4 T-cell count (P=0.015). Env-specific CD3-negative responses were stronger where women had both Gag CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses, in turn associated with lower viral loads (P=0.005). CD3-negative cell responders had significantly higher representation of CD4 T-cell responses to Env and Reg (P=0.012 and P=0.015, respectively) and higher magnitudes of CD4 T-cell responses (P=0.017 and P=0.037, respectively) than non-responders. Peptide-specific NK cells are associated with markers of less severe disease progression among HIV-1 infected women (lower viral load, higher CD4 count) and associate with stronger HIV-specific T-cell responses.