GB virus type C/hepatitis G virus: a non-pathogenic flavivirus associated with prolonged survival in HIV-infected individuals.
GB virus C (GBV-C) is a common virus that does not appear to cause disease. GBV-C persists in up to 50% of exposed individuals, and virus replication appears to be in lymphocytes including CD4+ T cells. GBV-C infection is common among HIV-positive people, and several studies have found that HIV-positive individuals co-infected with GBV-C survive for statistically significantly longer periods of time than people without GBV-C. In vitro studies suggest that GBV-C inhibits HIV replication and alters cytokine, chemokine and chemokine receptor expression. Thus, GBV-C may be a major factor influencing the natural history of HIV disease.
Polgreen
Philip M
PM
Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City VA Medical Center, Internal Medicine SW34-P, GH, University of Iowa, UIHC, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Xiang
Jinhua
J
Chang
Qing
Q
Stapleton
Jack T
JT
D000818:Animals; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D014779:Virus Replication