title: Alterations in immune function are associated with liver enzyme elevation in HIV and HCV co-infection after commencement of combination antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: The cause of liver enzyme elevation during combination antiretroviral therapy in people with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection is unclear. We followed 12 subjects (five with alanine transaminase elevation) for 24 weeks after combination antiretroviral therapy commencement. Immune responses against hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and other viruses were assessed by interferon-γ ELISpot. Plasma cytokines, chemokines and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody levels were measured. Those with liver enzyme elevation had higher ELISpot responses both against hepatitis C virus non-structural regions and other viral antigens, and their anti-hepatitis C virus antibody levels were consistently higher, suggesting that reconstitution of both hepatitis C virus-specific and non-hepatitis C virus-specific immune responses may be associated with liver transaminase elevation during combination antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Infection Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. b.cameron@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Barbara Anne
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Cassy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Workman
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D060085:Coinfection; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase