title: Cytokine Response Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Clearance in HIV Coinfected Patients Initiating Peg Interferon-α Based Therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection based on peginterferon-α (pegIFNα) and ribavirin induces important changes in cytokine release and T cell activation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Immune response to pegIFNα-ribavirin therapy was explored in patients coinfected by HCV and HIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentrations of 25 cytokines and CD8(+) T cell activation were monitored in HCV/HIV coinfected patients classified as sustained virological responders (SVR, n=19) and non-responders (NR, n=11).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High pretreatment concentrations of IP-10 (CXCL-10) and MCP-1 (CCL-2) were associated with a poor anti-HCV response. PegIFNα-ribavirin therapy increased CD8(+) T cell activation and induced significant changes in levels of eleven cytokines related to both Th1 and Th2 responses in SVR (IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-12p40/70, IL-13, IP-10, eotaxin, MCP-1) but of only six cytokines in NR (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-12p40/70, IL-13, eotaxin). The highest rise in MIP-1β and MCP-1 levels was observed four weeks after anti-HCV treatment initiation in SVR compared to NR (p=0.002 and p=0.03, respectively), whereas a decrease in IL-8 concentration was associated with treatment failure (p= 0.052).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher and broader cytokine responses to pegIFNα-ribavirin therapy were observed in SVR patients compared to NR. Changes in IL-8, MIP-1β, and MCP-1 serum concentrations may be associated with efficacy of pegIFNα- and ribavirin-based therapies in patients coinfected by HCV and HIV.
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.; Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Thanh Thai, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Truong Tam
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Reihani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niloofar
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rubbo
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Kuster
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nils
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bollore
authors.affiliation: CHU Montpellier, Département de Bactériologie - Virologie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ducos
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.; CHU Montpellier, Département d'Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Georges-Philippe
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pageaux
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.; CHU Montpellier, Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, 34295, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reynes
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.; CHU Montpellier, Département de Bactériologie - Virologie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van de Perre
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, INSERM U 1058, 34394 Montpellier, France.; CHU Montpellier, Département de Bactériologie - Virologie, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuaillon