title: Interleukin-27 is differentially associated with HIV viral load and CD4+ T cell counts in therapy-naïve HIV-mono-infected and HIV/HCV-co-infected Chinese.
abstract: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the resultant Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic are major global health challenges; hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection has made the HIV/AIDS epidemic even worse. Interleukin-27 (IL-27), a cytokine which inhibits HIV and HCV replication in vitro, associates with HIV infection and HIV/HCV co-infection in clinical settings. However, the impact of HIV and HCV viral loads on plasma IL-27 expression levels has not been well characterized. In this study, 155 antiretroviral therapy-naïve Chinese were recruited. Among them 80 were HIV- and HCV-negative healthy controls, 45 were HIV-mono-infected and 30 were HIV/HCV-co-infected. Plasma level HIV, HCV, IL-27 and CD4+ number were counted and their correlation, regression relationships were explored. We show that: plasma IL-27 level was significantly upregulated in HIV-mono-infected and HIV/HCV-co-infected Chinese; HIV viral load was negatively correlated with IL-27 titer in HIV-mono-infected subjects whereas the relationship was opposite in HIV/HCV-co-infected subjects; and the relationships between HIV viral loads, IL-27 titers and CD4+ T cell counts in the HIV mono-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection groups were dramatically different. Overall, our results suggest that IL-27 differs in treatment-naïve groups with HIV mono-infections and HIV/HCV co-infections, thereby providing critical information to be considered when caring and treating those with HIV mono-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection.
authors.affiliation: Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Maggie Haitian
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Biosciences, Faculty of Life Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kenny K Y
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Benny C Y
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Zee
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Liang
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002681:China; D060085:Coinfection; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D064094:Interleukin-27 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D064094:Interleukin-27