High levels of chronic immune activation in the T-cell compartments of patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and on highly active antiretroviral therapy are reverted by alpha interferon and ribavirin treatment.
Chronic immune activation is a driver of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression. Here, we describe that subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV-1 coinfection display sharply elevated immune activation as determined by CD38 expression in T cells. This occurs, despite effective antiretroviral therapy, in both CD8 and CD4 T cells and is more pronounced than in the appropriate monoinfected control groups. Interestingly, the suppression of HCV by pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin treatment reduces activation. High HCV loads and elevated levels of chronic immune activation may contribute to the high rates of viral disease progression observed in HCV/HIV-1-coinfected patients.
Gonzalez
Veronica D
VD
Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden.
Falconer
Karolin
K
Blom
Kim G
KG
Reichard
Olle
O
Mørn
Birgitte
B
Laursen
Alex Lund
AL
Weis
Nina
N
Alaeus
Annette
A
Sandberg
Johan K
JK
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1