The expression of Gal-9 receptor on the surface of CD3 + CD56 +NKT-like cells in HIV chronically infected individuals

QIAN Shi; TIAN Yao; ZHANG Zining; DING Haibo; HAN Xiaoxu; JIANG Yongjun

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20170186

Abstract：The study was performed to investigate the expression of the Gal-9 receptors on NKT-like cells in chronically infected individuals.PBMC were collected from 29 HIV infected patients and 21 normal controls,and then stained with fluorescent antibodies.The expression of Gal-9 on CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells was detected by flow cytometry.Then we analyzed the difference of Gal-9 expression before and after HIV infection,and the relationship of Gal-9 with CD4+T counts or viral load.Data showed that the percentage of CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells in HIV patients was significantly lower than that in the healthy controls (P=0.020);the percentage of Gal-9+ NKT-like cells in HIV infected individuals was higher,as compared with the normal controls (P=0.016).No significant difference of the MFI of Gal-9 on NKT-like cells was found between normal controls and HIV patients,while the MFI in low CD4 +T cells group (CD4 +T＜350/μl) was higher than that in normal controls (P=0.022).Moreover,there was no correlation between Gal-9+ NKT％ and CD4+T cells counts,while a negative correlation existed between the MFI of Gal-9 and the number of CD4+T cells (P=0.025).Therefore,we concluded that the Gal-9 receptor expression on CD3 +CD56+ NKT-like cell is higher in HIV chronically infected individuals than that in normal controls,while the MFI of Gal-9 and CD4+T cells counts are negatively correlated,suggesting that the Gal-9 receptor on NKT-like cells could be a marker of the progression in HIV infection.