HIV-1 and HCV infections represent two major public health issues. In addition, HIV is closely related to innate immunity mediated through NK and NKT cells. Immune activation is a hallmark of HIV infection impacting innate immunity. Our main objectives are: (1) to evaluate correlates of NK and NKT cell levels in HIV-infected women, and (2) to evaluate the association of NK and NKT cells with levels of immune activation in HIV-infected women.

Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models with an identity link function were used to complete linear regression analyses incorporating dependent observations in our research. Our study systematically evaluated the association between NK/NKT cell level and immune activation markers. We determined that (1) CD4, CD8 and age were significantly positively correlated, while HIV viral load was significantly inversely associated with NK level; (2) CD4 and CD8 were significantly positively correlated, while HIV viral load was significantly inversely associated with NKT levels; (3) high levels of CD8+CD38-DR+ and CD4+CD38-DR- T cell activation in HIV-infected women are positively associated with NK level; (4) high levels of CD8+CD38-DR-, CD8+CD38-DR+ and CD4+CD38-DR- T cell activation in HIV-infected women are positively associated with NKT level.