title: The Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus-1 enhances hepatitis C virus replication through interferon gamma-inducible protein-10.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with faster progression of liver disease and an increase in HCV persistence. However, the mechanism by which HIV-1 accelerates the progression of HCV liver disease remains unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV-1/HCV co-infection is associated with increased expression of interferon gamma-induced protein-10 (IP-10) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). HCV RNA levels were higher in PBMCs of patients with HIV-1/HCV co-infection than in patients with HCV mono-infection. HIV-1 Tat and IP-10 activated HCV replication in a time-dependent manner, and HIV-1 Tat induced IP-10 production. In addition, the effect of HIV-1 Tat on HCV replication was blocked by anti-IP-10 monoclonal antibody, demonstrating that the effect of HIV-1 Tat on HCV replication depends on IP-10. Taken together, these results suggest that HIV-1 Tat protein activates HCV replication by upregulating IP-10 production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-1/HCV co-infection is associated with increased expression of IP-10 mRNA and replication of HCV RNA. Furthermore, both HIV-1 Tat and IP-10 activate HCV replication. HIV-1 Tat activates HCV replication by upregulating IP-10 production. These results expand our understanding of HIV-1 in HCV replication and the mechanism involved in the regulation of HCV replication mediated by HIV-1 during co-infection.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, and Chinese-French Liver Disease Research Institute at Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Youxing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weiyong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lvxiao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D060085:Coinfection; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D014779:Virus Replication; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D012367:RNA, Viral; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus