Characterization of CD4+ T-Cell Immune Activation and Interleukin 10 Levels Among HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, and HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients

Abstract

CD4 immune activation with HLA-DR⁺ expression in HIV/HCV coinfection with well-controlled HIV may arise from chronic HCV viremia. Conversely, CD4⁺CD38⁺ expression may be driven by underlying HIV infection. CD4 immune activation was unexpectedly found to be associated with decreased liver fibrosis.

Increased frequency of late‐senescent T cells lacking CD127 in chronic hepatitis C disease

“…Immune activation is a direct measure of disease progression, and earlier work has shown that CD38 expression on CD8+ T cells likely reflects the status of immune activation in viral‐infected individuals . Our current investigation clearly showed an increase in the expression of HLA‐DR and CD38 on T cells of HCV‐infected compared to HCs in line with recent findings , also confirming peripheral CIA.…”

Hepatic fibrosis and immune phenotype vary by HCV viremia in HCV/HIV co-infected subjects

“…[10,29] More recent studies have reported CD8 T-cell activation is not enhanced in HCV/HIV coinfected [11,24,30] and HCV/HIV coinfected subjects have activated CD4 T cells. [11,24] An earlier study in the WIHS cohort by Kovacs et al [29] reported elevated CD8 T-cell activation in HCV/HIV coinfected subjects, wherein HIV-1 disease in most women was at an early stage: almost 50% were untreated and only 7.7% were receiving HAART. In contrast, a more recent study in WIHS cohort by Kuniholm et al [24] assessing T-cell phenotype in HIV-infected women stratified by HCV RNA did not find CD8 T-cell activation in HCV/HIV coinfected women.…”

“…[8,9] Studies examining the effects of HCV co-infection on immune activation are contradictory with some reporting an association with CD8 T cell activation not confirmed in others. [10,11] HCV progression in HIV infection has been reported to be owing to HIV-mediated loss of CD4 helper T cells. [12] Liver damage in chronic infection is predominantly from non-HCV-specific inflammatory T cells infiltrating the liver.…”

Immune Disorders in HIV-Infected Patients Coinfected with Hepatitis C Virus

“…Consequently, in coinfection, microbial products entering the blood should cause strong immune activation. Indeed, the level of immune activation in HIV/HCV coinfection is higher than that in HIV [144,145] or HCV [146,147] monoinfection alone.…”