title: GBV-C coinfection is negatively correlated to Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis in HIV-1 infected patients.
abstract: Persistent coinfection with the apathogenic GB virus C (GBV-C) is associated with slower disease progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. Aim of this study was to investigate whether Fas plays a role in this beneficial effect. Fas expression and susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis (FMA) was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HIV-1 patients coinfected and non-coinfected with GBV-C. Fas expression and function was evaluated in 42 GBV-C coinfected and 101 non-coinfected HIV-1 patients. Thirteen healthy and 11 Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected individuals were analyzed as controls. Cell surface Fas expression was determined by flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis was evaluated by staining with Annexin V and Viaprobe followed by multiparameter flow cytometry analysis. In untreated HIV-1 patients GBV-C coinfection was associated with significantly lower percentage of Fas expressing cells as compared to GBV-C non-coinfected individuals. Expression of Fas was directly correlated with sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Sensitivity to FMA was unchanged in GBV-C coinfected patients. PBMCs of patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) did not show such a difference. Untreated HIV-1 patients with GBV-C coinfection have reduced cell surface Fas expression. Lower FMA of T-cells might contribute to prolonged survival of GBV-C coinfected HIV-1 patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moenkemeyer
authors.forename: Reinhold E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
authors.forename: Hans L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tillmann
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heiken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D019014:fas Receptor