Abstract |
Although epidemiologic studies have documented that hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients have accelerated fibrogenesis, especially those with CD4+ cell counts <200 cells/mm(3), the pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood. We investigated whether severe immunodeficiency in co-infection is associated with changes in intrahepatic inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels. We measured interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12p35 and IL-12p40 mRNA levels by real-time PCR performed on liver samples from HCV mono-infected (n = 19) and HCV/HIV co-infected (n = 24) patients. Co-infected patients had decreased intrahepatic mRNA levels of IFN-gamma (P = 0.09), IL-4 (P = 0.05) and IL-12p35 (P = 0.04) compared with mono-infected patients, while IL-10 was increased (P = 0.07). In co-infected patients, IFN-gamma mRNA levels increased linearly with increasing peripheral CD4+ cell counts by 1.23 times relative to the calibrator for every 100 CD4+ cells/mm(3) increase (P = 0.02). No other cytokines were significantly associated with CD4+ cell counts. In conclusion, HIV-induced lymphopenia may result in hepatic inflammatory cytokine suppression in HCV/HIV co-infection. Intrahepatic IFN-gamma levels are significantly reduced in patients with advanced immunodeficiency. Further studies are needed to assess whether decreased IFN-gamma secretion by HCV-specific CD4+ cells may account for accelerated fibrogenesis in these patients.
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Authors | S A Gonzalez, C Zhang, M I Fiel, S Chung, L Zhang, I M Jacobson, A H Talal |
Journal | Journal of viral hepatitis
(J Viral Hepat)
Vol. 15
Issue 5
Pg. 331-8
(May 2008)
ISSN: 1365-2893 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 18179452
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- Cytokines
(biosynthesis, genetics)
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- HIV Infections
(complications, immunology)
- Hepatitis C
(complications, immunology)
- Humans
- Liver
(pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- RNA, Messenger
(biosynthesis, genetics)
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
(methods)
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