CD81 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after treatment with interferon and ribavirin in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.
BACKGROUND
CD81 is expressed on lymphocytes and confers HCV viral infectivity support. The aim of our study was to quantify CD81 expression in peripheral blood B- and T-cells of HCV/HIV-coinfected patients and healthy subjects to examine its association with several HCV virological characteristics and the therapeutic responsiveness to HCV antiviral treatment.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional study on 122 naïve patients. For a duration of 48 weeks, 24 out of 122 patients underwent HCV antiviral therapy with interferon (IFN)-alpha and ribavirin. T- and B-cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
We found that HIV/HCV coinfected patients with HCV-RNA > or =850 000 IU/mL had lower values of %CD19+CD81-CD62L+ and %CD19+CD62L+; and higher values of CD19+CD81+CD62L- and CD19+CD81+ percentages and absolute counts than patients with HCV-RNA <850 000 IU/mL. Similarly, HIV/HCV coinfected patients with the genotype 1 had lower values of %CD19+CD81-CD62L+ and higher values of CD3+CD81+CD62L- and CD3+CD81+ percentages and absolute counts than patients without genotype 1. Moreover, we found that HIV/HCV coinfected patients had higher values of %CD19+HLA-DR+CD25+, %CD19+CD40+CD25+ and %CD19+CD25+ than healthy control patients. When we studied the B- and T-cell subset kinetics of 24 HIV/HCV coinfected patients on HCV antiviral therapy, we found a significant decrease in CD3+CD81+and CD3+CD81+CD62L- subsets and a significant increase in CD3+CD62L+ and CD3+CD81+CD62L+ percentages and absolute counts, but the variation in these markers disappeared several months after stopping the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a different pattern of CD81 T-cell and B-cell levels in naïve HIV/HCV coinfected patients according to HCV virological status and their subsequent variations during HCV antiviral treatment. CD81 expression might influence HCV pathogenesis and response to HCV antiviral treatment.
Micheloud
D
D
Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
González-Nicolás
J
J
Berenguer
J
J
Lorente
R
R
Miralles
P
P
López
J C
JC
Cosín
J
J
Catalán
P
P
Muñoz-Fernández
Má
M
Resino
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D019562:Viral Load
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; C554798:CD81 protein, human; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D012254:Ribavirin