Influence of GB virus C on IFN-γ and IL-2 production and CD38 expression in T lymphocytes from chronically HIV-infected and HIV-HCV-co-infected patients.
This study was designed to assess the effect of GB virus (GBV)-C on the immune response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in chronically HIV-infected and HIV- hepatitis C virus (HCV)-co-infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy. A cohort of 159 HIV-seropositive patients, of whom 52 were HCV-co-infected, was included. Epidemiological data were collected and virological and immunological markers, including the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-2 by CD4, CD8 and Tγδ cells and the expression of the activation marker, CD38, were assessed. A total of 65 patients (40.8%) presented markers of GBV-C infection. The presence of GBV-C did not influence HIV and HCV replication or TCD4 and TCD8 cell counts. Immune responses, defined by IFN-γ and IL-2 production and CD38 expression did not differ among the groups. Our results suggest that neither GBV-C viremia nor the presence of E2 antibodies influence HIV and HCV viral replication or CD4 T cell counts in chronically infected patients. Furthermore, GBV-C did not influence cytokine production or CD38-driven immune activation among these patients. Although our results do not exclude a protective effect of GBV-C in early HIV disease, they demonstrate that this effect may not be present in chronically infected patients, who represent the majority of patients in outpatient clinics.
Disciplina de Infectologia, Laboratório de Virologia e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. giovana.lotici@unifesp.br
Giovana Lotici
GL
Baggio-Zappia
Aline de Jesus
Ade J
Barbosa
Milena Karina Coló
MK
Brunialti
Reinaldo
R
Salomão
Celso Francisco Hernandes
CF
Granato
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D029407:GB virus C / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1