HIV-associated microbial translocation may affect cytokine production of CD56bright NK cells via stimulation of monocytes


 The mechanisms involved in HIV-associated 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 IFN-γ production, suggesting microbial translocation to modulate NK cell functions. Accordingly, we found LPS to have an indirect inhibitory effect on NK cells via triggering monocytes’ TGF-β production. Taken together, our data suggest increased microbial translocation to be involved in HIV-associated NK cell dysfunction.