The dynamics of HCV-specific antibody responses in HIV/HCV patients on long-term antiretroviral therapy.
Antibody responses have not been fully characterised in chronically HIV/HCV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Seventeen HIV/HCV patients receiving ART were followed for a median (range) interval of 597 (186-766) weeks. Prior to ART, HIV/HCV patients had lower levels of antibodies reactive with HCV core and JFH-1, and lower genotype cross-reactive neutralising antibodies (nAb) titres, than HCV patients. Levels of JFH-1 reactive antibody increased on ART, irrespective of CD4+T-cell counts or changes in serum ALT levels. The appearance of nAb coincided with control of HCV viral replication in five HIV/HCV patients. In other patients, HCV viral loads remained elevated despite nAb responses. Sustained virological responses following HCV therapy were associated with reduced antibody responses to JFH-1 and core but elevated responses to non-structural proteins. We conclude that nAb responses alone may fail to clear HCV, but contribute to control of viral replication in some HIV/HCV patients responding to ART.
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Australia. Electronic address: silvia.lee@curtin.edu.au.
Silvia
S
Lee
School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Australia.
Alfred
A
Laiman
School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Australia; Clinical Immunology and Immunogenetics, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
Martyn A
MA
French
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
James
J
Flexman
Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Australia.
Mark W
MW
Watson
School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Australia.
Patricia
P
Price
D000328:Adult; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral
Antiretroviral therapy; HCV; HIV; Neutralising antibodies