A research team led by Professor Hou Wei from Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences and Professor Huo Wenzhe from Wuhan University Animal Experimentation Center has discovered that a type of T lymphocyte expressing CD56 molecules has anti-HIV effects. The research paper was published in the August issue of the American Journal of Lymphocyte Biology.
According to Hou Wei, “T lymphocytes expressing CD56 molecules” are a class of “bridge cells” with natural killing and self-protection functions, and are an important component of the human natural immune system, accounting for 5%-15% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells They account for 5%-15% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 50% of intestinal and hepatic immune cells. Previous studies have only found a role for this cell in anti-tumor and anti-hepatitis virus infections, but have not found a strong role against HIV infection.
The team found for the first time that secretions from this T-lymphocyte culture could inhibit HIV infection and replication, and that this activity was broad-spectrum, inhibiting both laboratory-preserved and clinically isolated strains of HIV. The team found that although the secretion in the culture of “CD56-expressing T lymphocytes” had little effect on the co-receptors of HIV entry into the cells, it enhanced the action of interferon regulatory factors, which caused macrophages to act to “fight “against HIV. In addition, this T lymphocyte has the ability to enhance the action of a newly discovered intracellular anti-HIV cytokine.