title: Decreased frequencies of virus-specific T helper type 1 cells during interferon alpha plus ribavirin treatment in HIV-hepatitis C virus co-infection.
abstract: Anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment combining IFN-alpha and ribavirin (IFN+R) has still poorly defined effects on immune responses. Frequencies of T helper (Th) type 1 cells specific for HCV, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and HIV were measured in chronically HCV-infected patients with or without HIV co-infection during IFN+R treatment. Although scarce, peripheral blood HCV-specific Th1 cells did not change significantly, while frequencies of HIV and CMV-specific Th1 cells decreased in co-infected patients independently of CD4 cell count changes. This suggests that IFN+R therapy might compromise virus-specific immune defenses in immunosuppressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire et Tissulaire INSERM U543, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alatrakchi
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thibault
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benhamou
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katlama
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poynard
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Autran
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin