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The frequency, activation, and coreceptor expression of lymphocytes in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus
Wanying Shi1, Zining Zhang, Min Zhang
1Key Laboratory of Immunology of AIDS, Ministry of Health, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, P. R. China.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accelerates HIV disease progression in co-infected patients by impairing immune function and increasing T-cell activation. This impacts T-cell counts and viral load in Chinese patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection is common.
- Understanding the impact of HCV on HIV disease progression is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize lymphocyte frequency, activation, and coreceptor expression in Chinese HIV/HCV co-infected patients.
- To assess HCV's impact on HIV immune status and disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze T cells and NK cells.
- Immune cell counts, activation levels, and coreceptor expression were assessed in 110 HIV/HCV co-infected and 101 HIV mono-infected patients across different disease stages.
Main Results:
- Co-infected patients showed decreased CD4 T-cell and NK cell counts with disease progression.
- Higher T-lymphocyte activation and coreceptor expression (HLA-DR, CXCR4) were observed in co-infected patients, particularly in the AIDS stage.
- HIV and HCV viral loads increased with disease progression in co-infected individuals.
Conclusions:
- HCV exacerbates HIV disease progression by damaging innate immunity and increasing T-lymphocyte activation markers.
- HCV accelerates the natural course of HIV infection, leading to poorer immune status and increased viral load.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to characterize the frequency, activation, and coreceptor expression of lymphocytes in Chinese human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients, and to study the impact of HCV on immune status and disease progression of HIV infection. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the numbers of T cells and NK cells, the level of activation and the coreceptors of T lymphocytes in different disease stages among 110 HIV/HCV co-infected and 101 HIV mono-infected patients. With disease progression, co-infected patients expressed lower numbers of CD4 T-cells and NK cells, and higher activation levels and coreceptor expression of T lymphocytes. Compared to the counts of HIV mono-infected patients, the NK cell counts of co-infected patients were significantly lower in the asymptomatic HIV-infected and AIDS groups, and the levels of HLA-DR and CXCR4 were significantly elevated in the AIDS group. The viral load of HIV and HCV in the co-infected group increased gradually with the progression of disease. With disease progression, the immune status of HIV/HCV co-infected patients decreased gradually, and the HIV viral load increased. HCV appears to accelerate the natural course of the HIV disease by damaging the innate immune function and aggravating the levels of activating markers and coreceptors on T lymphocytes in co-infected patients.
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