Abstract
In the present study we analyze peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for both phenotypic expression and function of P-glycoprotein (P-170). This transmembrane efflux pump is known to be one of the mechanisms responsible for the multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer therapy and it is also constitutively expressed in normal PBL. P-170 function, evaluated as Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) efflux in flow cytometry, was found to be significantly reduced in CD16 + natural killer (NK) cells from patients with HIV infection. Interestingly, this reduced efflux significantly correlates with the decreased NK cytotoxicity observed in HIV + patients, as evaluated against the NK-specific K562 target cell line. These results support a possible role of the P-170-related pump in specific immunological lymphocyte function such as NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.