Underlying pathophysiology of HCV infection in HIV-positive drug users.
HCV and HIV infections are very common among injection drug users (IDUs). It is well known that 80-90% of HIV-infected IDUs are also infected with HCV. Furthermore, patients with HCV/HIV co-infection are at a higher risk of progressing to end-stage liver disease, namely cirrhosis. Even though there is increasing global awareness of HCV/HIV co-infection and extended therapeutic programs for this infected population, little is known about the HCV/HIV pathophysiology that mediates the rapid progression to hepatic disease. Liver disease caused by HCV/HIV co-infection is characterized by inflammation and cell-death. Recent reports suggest that the HIV and HCV envelope proteins may induce apoptosis and inflammation in hepatocytes via a novel pathway involving collaborative signaling. Moreover, HCV/HIV co-infection may also alter the cytokine production in vivo. Further studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of HCV and HIV-mediated pathogenesis will help in the development of therapeutic strategies against HCV/HIV co-infection in these patients.
Balasubramanian
Anuradha
A
Division of Experimental Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Groopman
Jerome E
JE
Ganju
Ramesh K
RK
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016923:Cell Death; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens