An inverse association between the frequencies of CD69+NK cells and CD4 T-cell counts was shown in acute HIV-1 infection (r = −0.49, P = 0.002), especially in the first month of infection (r = −0.71, P = 0.001), as well as in including the twelfth month and more than 2 years of chronic HIV-1 infection (r = −0.40, P = 0.016). The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is infection.