title: What you need to know about GB virus C.
abstract: GB virus C (GBV-C) is a nonpathogenic member of the Flaviviridae family most closely related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Infection is common in healthy and immunocompromised people and may persist for years. GBV-C infection is associated with improved survival, improved AIDS-free survival, higher CD4(+) T-cell counts, and lower HIV viral loads in HIV-infected people compared with people infected with HIV but not GBV-C. The mechanism of this effect is not yet clear, but GBV-C has been shown to inhibit HIV replication in vitro through increased synthesis and secretion of anti-HIV b-chemokines MIP-1a, MIP-1b, RANTES, SDF-1, and SDF-2 and downregulation of CCR5 receptor expression. GBV-C also inhibits apoptosis of its host cell, similar to HCV. GBV-C E2 protein in serum has also been associated with prolonged survival in HIV infection; recent evidence indicates that GBV-C E2 protein may neutralize HIV infection in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, FDT-8N, 3635 Vista Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. georgesl@slu.edu
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Varmaz
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015994:Incidence; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents