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.
Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
D
D
Micheloud
J
J
González-Nicolás
J
J
Berenguer
R
R
Lorente
P
P
Miralles
J C
JC
López
J
J
Cosín
P
P
Catalán
Má
M
Muñoz-Fernández
S
S
Resino
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