title: Dynamic analysis of Th1/Th2 cytokine concentration during antiretroviral therapy of HIV-1/HCV co-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Co-infection with hepatitis C (HCV) is very common in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infected patients. Although HIV co-infection clearly accelerates progression of HCV-related fibrosis and liver disease, controversy remains as to the impact of HCV on HIV disease progression in co-infected patients. HIV can cause immune dysfunction, in which the regulatory function of T helper (Th) cells is very essential. Moreover, cytokines derived from Th cells play a prominent role in viral infection. Investigating the functional changes of Th1 and Th2 cells in cytokine level can improve the understanding of the effect of co-infected HCV on HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we measured the baseline Th1/Th2 cytokine concentration in sera by using flow cytometry in HIV/HCV co-infection, HIV mono-infection, HCV mono-infection, and healthy control group, as well as the dynamic changes of these cytokine levels after receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of Th1 and Th2 cytokine concentration in HIV/HCV co-infection was higher than HCV mono-infection and healthy control group, while lower than HIV mono-infection group. After HAART was initiated, the Th1/Th2 ratio of HIV/HCV co-infection group decreased to the same level of healthy control, while HIV mono-infection group was still higher than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant evidence showing co-infected with HCV had negative effect on HIV related diseases. However, co-infected with HCV can decrease Th1/Th2 ratio by affecting Th1 cytokine level, especially the secretion of IFN-γ. With the initiation of HAART, Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were progressively reduced. HIV was the main stimulating factor of T cells in HIV/HCV co-infection group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China. kangwz@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Wenzhen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Dedong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yongtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines