High Frequencies of Polyfunctional CD8⁺NK Cells in Chronic HIV-1 Infection Are Associated with Slower Disease Progression

Abstract

We demonstrate that the frequency of highly functional CD8(+) NK cells is inversely associated with HIV-related disease markers and linked with delayed disease progression. These results thus indicate that CD8(+) NK cells represent a novel NK cell-derived, innate immune correlate with an improved clinical outcome in HIV infection.