title: HCV co-infection does not affect the TREC/IL-7 pathway in HIV disease.
abstract: About thymic output, little is known in HIV-HCV co-infected patients. Thymic output can be measured by T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) present in the so called "recent thymic emigrants" (RTEs). We have analyzed, by Real time PCR, sj-TREC+ cells in 11 patients with HIV-HCV co-infection; all patients were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), but were naive for interferon anti-HCV treatment. The results were compared with those of 21 age-matched normal donors. These data show no reduction of sj-TREC+ cells in co-infection. In 5 co-infected patients, IL-7 plasmatic levels were also evaluated by ELISA and no difference between co-infected patients and normal controls was found. Taken together, our data, although limited by the numerosity of the sample, may suggest that HCV co-infection does not affect the TREC/IL-7 pathway in HIV disease.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cianci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammarota
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cauda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell