title: CXCL-10, interleukin-12 and interleukin-21 are not immunological predictors of HBeAg seroconversion in HIV-1-HBV coinfection following HBV-active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon stimulated chemokine CXCL-10, interleukin (IL)-12 (p70) and IL-21 have been associated with HBsAg and HBeAg loss following treatment of HBV monoinfection. The aim of this study was to determine whether these factors were also associated with HBsAg and HBeAg loss in HIV-HBV-coinfected patients following HBV-active combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-HBV-coinfected patients with HBeAg seroconversion (n=12; seroconverters [SC]) were compared to patients who did not seroconvert (n=13; non-seroconverters [NSC]). CXCL-10, IL-12 and IL-21 (Luminex Bead Array, Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA) were measured in plasma prior to initiation of HBV-active cART (baseline), at the time of seroconversion (T0) and at the closest time point before (T-1) and after (T+1) seroconversion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of CXCL-10 declined significantly in all patients following HBV-active cART (P<0.05 for both SC and NSC; Kruskall-Wallis, Dunn's post-test). There was no difference between SC and NSC in the level of CXCL-10, IL-12 and IL-21 at any time point.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no evidence that CXCL-10, IL-12 or IL-21 were associated with HBeAg seroconversion following HBV-active cART. Other immunological determinants should be explored in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale 'A Avogadro', Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giarda
authors.forename: Anchalee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avihingsanon
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sasadeusz
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Audsley
authors.forename: Pip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Kiat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruxrungtham
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D060085:Coinfection; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007378:Interleukins; D018664:Interleukin-12; D000098546:Interleukin-21