Role of endogenous interferon in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in coinfection by HIV and HCV.
Recombinant interferon alpha (IFN alpha), widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, can induce a major decrease in HCV viraemia in good responders. In order to evaluate the possible role of endogenous IFN, using a biological method, we measured the IFN levels in 74 patients infected by HCV and in 73 patients coinfected by HIV and HCV. IFN levels were much higher in the HCV+HIV+ group and were linked to HIV viraemia. In those patients with high IFN levels, the HCV viraemia was lower, but only in the HCV+ group. These data suggest that IFN can partly control the HCV viraemia, but in coinfection by HIV, the response of HCV to endogenous IFN could be lower.
Cribier
B
B
Institut de Virologie/INSERM U74, Strasbourg, France.
Schmitt
C
C
Rey
D
D
Lang
J M
JM
Kirn
A
A
Stoll-Keller
F
F
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014766:Viremia
D016898:Interferon-alpha