BACKGROUND: Progression to AIDS is slower in persons infected with both HIV-1 and GB virus C (GBV-C), also known as hepatitis G virus. OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical, virologic, and immunologic variables in HIV-1-seropositive patients with and without GBV-C co-infection. DESIGN: Subanalysis of a prospective cohort study. SETTING: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. PATIENTS: 80 asymptomatic HIV-1-seropositive patients. MEASUREMENTS: GBV-C RNA level; plasma HIV-1 viral load; CD4(+) cell counts; and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12. RESULTS: At the start of the study, plasma GBV-C RNA was detected in 17 patients (21%). During follow-up, IL-2 and IL-12 levels decreased significantly (P = 0.005 and P = 0.01, respectively) and IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased significantly (P = 0.01 and P = 0.004, respectively) in the GBV-C-negative group but did not change substantially in the GBV-C-positive group. Each measured variable differed significantly between GBV-C-positive and GBV-C-negative groups during follow-up (P < 0.001 for IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10; P = 0.002 for IL-2). CONCLUSION: GB virus C may immunologically interfere with progression of HIV-1 infection to AIDS by maintaining an intact T-helper 1 cytokine profile.
BACKGROUND: Progression to AIDS is slower in persons infected with both HIV-1 and GB virus C (GBV-C), also known as hepatitis G virus. OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical, virologic, and immunologic variables in HIV-1-seropositivepatients with and without GBV-C co-infection. DESIGN: Subanalysis of a prospective cohort study. SETTING: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. PATIENTS: 80 asymptomatic HIV-1-seropositivepatients. MEASUREMENTS: GBV-C RNA level; plasma HIV-1 viral load; CD4(+) cell counts; and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12. RESULTS: At the start of the study, plasma GBV-C RNA was detected in 17 patients (21%). During follow-up, IL-2 and IL-12 levels decreased significantly (P = 0.005 and P = 0.01, respectively) and IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased significantly (P = 0.01 and P = 0.004, respectively) in the GBV-C-negative group but did not change substantially in the GBV-C-positive group. Each measured variable differed significantly between GBV-C-positive and GBV-C-negative groups during follow-up (P < 0.001 for IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10; P = 0.002 for IL-2). CONCLUSION:GB virus C may immunologically interfere with progression of HIV-1 infection to AIDS by maintaining an intact T-helper 1 cytokine profile.
Authors: Angelo Fama; Jinhua Xiang; Brian K Link; Cristine Allmer; Donna Klinzman; Andrew L Feldman; Grzegorz S Nowakowski; Mark Liebow; Melissa C Larson; Matthew J Maurer; Stephen M Ansell; Anne J Novak; Yan W Asmann; Susan L Slager; Timothy G Call; Thomas M Habermann; James R Cerhan; Jack T Stapleton Journal: Br J Haematol Date: 2018-05-29 Impact factor: 6.998
Authors: Farnaz Vahidnia; M Petersen; G Rutherford; M Busch; S Assmann; J T Stapleton; B Custer Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Nirjal Bhattarai; James H McLinden; Jinhua Xiang; Alan L Landay; Ernest T Chivero; Jack T Stapleton Journal: J Immunol Date: 2013-05-17 Impact factor: 5.422