Polyfunctional natural killer cells with a low activation profile in response to Toll-like receptor 3 activation in HIV-1-exposed seronegative subjects

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are the main mediator of the cytotoxic response in innate immunity and may be involved in resistance to HIV-1 infection in exposed seronegative (ESN) individuals. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling is crucial for NK cell activation. Here, we investigated the polyfunctional NK cell response to TLR3 activation in serodiscordant couples. ESN subjects showed increased IFN-γ and CD107a expression in both NK subsets, CD56^bright and CD56^dim cells, in response to stimulation with a TLR3 agonist, while expression was impaired in the HIV-1-infected partners. TLR3-induced expression of IFN-γ, TNF and CD107a by polyfunctional CD56^bright NK cells was more pronounced in ESN individuals than that in healthy controls. Activated NK cells, as determined by CD38 expression, were increased only in the HIV-1-infected partners, with reduced IFN-γ and CD107a expression. Moreover, CD38⁺ NK cells of the HIV-1-infected partners were associated with increased expression of inhibitory molecules, such as NKG2A, PD-1 and Tim-3, while NK cells from ESN subjects showed decreased NKG2A expression. Altogether, these findings indicate that NK cells of ESN individuals were highly responsive to TLR3 activation and had a polyfunctional NK cell phenotype, while the impaired TLR3 response in HIV-1-infected partners was associated with an inhibitory/exhaustion NK cell phenotype.