title: High plasma CXCL10 levels are associated with HCV-genotype 1, and higher insulin resistance, fibrosis, and HIV viral load in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CXCL10 may contribute to the host immune response against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), liver disease progression, and response to HCV antiviral therapy. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship among virological, immunological, and clinical characteristics with plasma CXCL10 levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study on 144 patients. CXCL10 and insulin were measured using an immunoassay kit. The degree of insulin resistance was estimated for each patient using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) method. Insulin resistance was defined as a HOMA index higher than or equal to 3.8. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio (APRI), FIB-4, Forns index, HGM1, and HGM2 were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The variables associated with log(10) CXCL10 levels by univariate analysis were age (b=0.013; p=0.023), prior AIDS-defining condition (b=0.127; p=0.045), detectable plasma HIV viral load (b=0.092; p=0.006), log(10) HOMA (b=0.216; p=0.002), HCV-genotype 1 (b=0.114; p=0.071), and liver fibrosis assessed by all non-invasive indexes (log(10) APRI (b=0.296; p=0.001), log(10) FIB-4 (b=0.436; p<0.001), log(10) Forns index (b=0.591; p<0.001), log(10) HGM1 (b=0.351; p=0.021), and log(10) HGM2 (b=0.215; p=0.018)). However, in multivariate analysis, CXCL10 levels were only associated with HOMA, detectable plasma HIV viral load, HCV-genotype 1 and FIB-4 (R-square=0.235; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma CXCL10 levels were influenced by several characteristics of patients related to HIV and HCV infections, insulin resistance, and liver fibrosis, indicating that CXCL10 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of both HCV and HIV infections.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases-HIV Unit, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Maria Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Sousa
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cosín
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Dariela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micheloud
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Catalán
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10