Study of Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors in Patients with HIVAIDS and Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract EN

The NCR receptors play a fundamental role in the cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells against tumor cells.

In the current study, we investigated possible HIV/AIDS-related changes in the expression of the NCR receptors comparing healthy donors, HIV/AIDS patients, and HIV/AIDS patients with cancer (HIV/AIDSWC).

The NCRs were quantified in NK cells (NKdim and NKbright) and T lymphocytes from peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry.

We found a significant decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp46 in HIV/AIDS group (p=0.0012).

There was a decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp46 in the HIV/AIDSWC group; however, this was not statistically significant.

We found a significant decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp30 in the HIV/AIDS group (p=0.0144).

There was a decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp30 and in the HIV/AIDSWC group, but this was not statistically significant.

There were no changes in the distribution of NK cells and their subtypes in both groups.