Selective depletion of low-density CD8+, CD16+ lymphocytes during HIV infection.

Two color cytofluorometric analyses of CD3-, CD16+, Leu 19+ natural killer cells (NK) were assessed in HIV seropositive patients, high-risk seronegative homosexuals, and healthy heterosexuals. A selective depletion of lymphocytes bearing NK phenotypes was found among HIV-positive infected patients. When the CD16+ lymphocyte compartment was further dissected, lymphoid cells bearing simultaneously low cell-surface density CD8 and CD16 (Leu 11a or Leu 11c) or Leu 19 epitopes were selectively and significantly decreased. This important depletion of CD8+ NK cells, which in most cases are CD3-, accounts for the decline in low-density CD8+ lymphocytes in HIV positive group, while a significant increase occurs in their CTL pool. Furthermore, in HIV negative high-risk homosexuals, a less profound but significant reduction of this lymphocyte subset was also found. Whether the involvement of the NK compartment, especially NK cells expressing the CD8 marker, may influence the outcome of individuals infected with HIV is still an open question.