HIV-Associated Microbial Translocation May Affect Cytokine Production of CD56(bright) NK Cells via Stimulation of Monocytes

The mechanisms involved in HIV-associated natural killer (NK) cell impairment are still incompletely understood. We observed HIV infection to be associated with increased plasma levels of IFABP, a marker for gut epithelial barrier dysfunction, and LBP, a marker for microbial translocation. Both IFABP and LBP plasma concentrations were inversely correlated with NK cell interferon-gamma production, suggesting microbial translocation to modulate NK cell functions. Accordingly, we found lipopolysaccharide to have an indirect inhibitory effect on NK cells via triggering monocytes' transforming growth factor-beta production. Taken together, our data suggest increased microbial translocation to be involved in HIV-associated NK cell dysfunction.