Natural killer cells in intravenous drug abusers with lymphadenopathy syndrome. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Natural killer cells in intravenous drug abusers with lymphadenopathy syndrome.

Clin Exp Immunol. 1985 Oct;62(1):128-35. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/86054125
Poli G; Introna M; Zanaboni F; Peri G; Carbonari M; Aiuti F; Lazzarin A; Moroni M; Mantovani A

Abstract: We have investigated 25 intravenous drug abusers with the clinical and laboratory features of lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS) and 10 AIDS patients for the expression of NK activity. LAS and AIDS patients had low NK cytotoxicity compared to normal donors. The defective NK cytotoxicity was analysed in the eight LAS subjects with most marked depression. NK effectors were identified by morphology (large granular lymphocytes, LGL) and monoclonal antibody-defined surface markers (B73.1, N901, HNK1). LAS patients had normal percentages of LGL and B73.1+ and N901+ cells. with the exception of two subjects with very low frequency of B73.1+ and N901+ cells. The percentage of HNK1+ cells was increased in LAS, probably because of the reactivity of this reagent with a subset of conventional OKT8+ cells, relatively augmented in LAS subjects. Depletion of monocytes did not enhance NK activity consistently. LAS patients had a normal frequency of cells capable of binding K562. In-vitro exposure to interferon beta (natural) or gamma (recombinant) augmented the defective NK activity of LAS subjects. Thus, patients with LAS have defective NK activity that cannot be accounted for by a low frequency of the relevant effector cells or by monocytic suppressors. These observations suggest a functional defect of NK cells at one or more of the post-binding steps required for the completion of killing.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY *Cytotoxicity, Immunologic Female Human Interferons/PHARMACOLOGY Killer Cells, Natural/*IMMUNOLOGY Leukocyte Count Lymphatic Diseases/ETIOLOGY/*IMMUNOLOGY Male Monocytes/IMMUNOLOGY Substance Abuse/*COMPLICATIONS Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDimmunologyKWDcytotoxicity,immunologicfemalehumaninterferons/pharmacologykillercells,natural/KWDimmunologyleukocytecountlymphaticdiseases/etiology/KWDimmunologymalemonocytes/immunologysubstanceabuse/KWDcomplicationssupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tjournalarticle
860330
M8630184

Copyright © 1986 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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