title: Hepatitis C therapy with interferon-α and ribavirin reduces the CD4 cell count and the total, 2LTR circular and integrated HIV-1 DNA in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.
abstract: This study investigated whether treatment with IFN-α and ribavirin (RBV) reduces 2LTR circular HIV DNA in addition to the total and integrated HIV DNA. Two groups of patients were enrolled. Group 1 comprised HIV/HCV co-infected patients who were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), IFN-α and RBV for 48 weeks. After the 48 weeks of treatment, IFN-α and RBV treatment was discontinued and HAART was continued. Group 2 comprised HIV-infected patients who were treated with HAART. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify the levels of HIV-1 DNA. We found that compared with Group 2 patients, Group 1 patients exhibited an obvious decrease in the CD4 cell count and the total DNA, 2LTR circular DNA, and integrated HIV DNA after 48 weeks of treatment. After the discontinuation of IFN-α and RBV treatment in Group 1 patients, the levels of HIV DNA recovered. Therefore, we concluded that treatment with IFN-α and ribavirin (RBV) reduces 2LTR circular HIV DNA.
authors.affiliation: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen Wai, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China.
authors.forename: Yan-mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen Wai, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China.
authors.forename: Wen-jia
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of the Animal Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Quan-sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens and AIDS Research Center, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, No. 627 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Wei-ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, No. 627 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Ling-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen Wai, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China. Electronic address: lihongjun00113@126.com.
authors.forename: Hong-jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen Wai, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China. Electronic address: gyqing2001bj@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yan-qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xi Tou Tiao, Youanmen Wai, Fengtai District, Beijing 100069, China. Electronic address: whdoc900@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: 2LTR circular HIV DNA; HCV; HIV; IFN-α