Opinion Article

What Is Going on with Natural Killer Cells in HIV Infection?
Ilana Dines^a,c, Vivian M. Rumjanek^b, Pedro Muanis Persechini<sup>c

a</sup>Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa - Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho,
^bDepartamento de Bioquímica - ICB and
^cInstituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2004;133:330-339 (DOI: 10.1159/000077352)

  Key Words

• Human immunodeficiency virus
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• Natural killer cells
• Perforin

  Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells represent 10-15% of circulating lymphocytes and are important mediators of both natural and adaptive immunity. They participate in immune surveillance against malignancies and virus infection and are involved in the complex immune responses of transplantation, autoimmune diseases and immunosuppression. They can also mediate physiological regulation of hematopoiesis, homeostasis of reproduction and placentation. In recent years new advances have been achieved in understanding the mechanisms whereby NK cells exert their cytotoxic and regulatory roles. Here, we review the physiology of NK cells with special attention to its role in HIV infection.

Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Ilana Dines
Instituto de Biofísica da UFRJ, Bloco G do Centro de Ciências da Saúde
Ilha do Fundão CEP: 21949-900
Rio de Janeiro, RJ (Brazil)
Tel./Fax +55 21 280 8193, E-Mail idines@biof.ufrj.br

  Article Information

Received: October 31, 2002
Accepted after revision: October 30, 2003
Published online: March 17, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 167