title: High plasma fractalkine (CX3CL1) levels are associated with severe liver disease in HIV/HCV co-infected patients with HCV genotype 1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inappropriate persistence of chemokines expression in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can drive tissue damage, intrahepatic inflammation, and liver cell injury. The aim of study was to study the association of plasma fractalkine (CX3CL1) levels with fibrosis stage and necroinflammatory activity grade of liver biopsies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV co-infected patients with HCV genotype 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study on 125 patients. Grading and staging of liver biopsies were carried out by METAVIR score. Plasma CX3CL1 was measured using an immunoassay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with advanced fibrosis had higher CX3CL1 levels than those with mild or no fibrosis (p=0.010); and patients with severe activity grade had higher CX3CL1 levels than those with low activity grade (p=0.040). Plasma CX3CL1 levels were significantly associated with increased odds of significant fibrosis (odds ratio (OR): 3.47 (95% of confidence interval (95%CI): 1.04; 11.58)), advanced fibrosis (OR: 6.78 (95%CI: 1.70; 26.93)), and moderate necroinflammatory activity grade (OR: 4.09 (95%CI: 1.21; 13.87)). When we analyzed fibrosis stages and activity grades of METAVIR score together, we found a positive significant association of CX3CL1 levels with moderate activity grade/significant fibrosis (OR: 5.49 (95%CI: 1.46; 20.58)) and moderate activity grade/advanced fibrosis (OR: 8.99 (95%CI: 2.06; 39.23)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma CX3CL1 levels were independently associated with several characteristics of severe liver disease in HIV/HCV coinfected patients with HCV-genotype 1, suggesting a role of CX3CL1 in the pathogenesis of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Álvarez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Fulgencio
authors.forename: Dariela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micheloud
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Catalán
authors.forename: M Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Fernandez
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio
chemical_list: C515538:CX3CL1 protein, human; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1