TY - JOUR
T1 - CD4+ T cell-dependent reduction in hepatitis C virus-specific humoral immune responses after HIV infection
AU - Netski, Dale M.
AU - Mosbruger, Tim
AU - Astemborski, Jacquie
AU - Mehta, Shruti H.
AU - Thomas, David L.
AU - Cox, Andrea L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Received 1 September 2006; accepted 23 October 2006; electronically published 7 February 2007. Potential conflicts of interest: none reported. Financial support: National Institutes of Health (grants R21 DK068555, K08 DA016535-01, U19 AI40035, and R01 DA16078). Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Dale Netski or Dr. Andrea Cox, 1503 E. Jefferson St., Baltimore, MD 21231 (dnetski1@jhmi.edu or acox@jhmi.edu).
PY - 2007/3/15
Y1 - 2007/3/15
N2 - Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection adversely affects all stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, leading to increased rates of viral persistence, higher levels of HCV viremia, and accelerated progression of HCV-related liver disease. These disease interactions may result in part from impairment of B cell function, which is CD4+ T cell dependent. Methods. To determine the effect of HIV infection on B cell function, we compared HCV antibody levels and specificities in 29 HCV-infected persons before and after they acquired HIV and assessed the temporal correlation of these changes with overall CD4+ T lymphocyte counts. Results. The pre-HIV infection HCV antibody titer was a predictor of the subsequent titer for all antigens, and decreasing CD4+ T cell numbers was strongly associated with a decrease in anti-HCV titers for several antigens. CD4+ T cells counts of <500 cells/mm3 were significantly associated with lower HCV antibody end-point titers. Higher HCV end-point titers were associated with fewer years from HIV infection and, for Core antigen, current drug use. Conclusions. HCV-specific antibody production is impaired by HIV infection, and loss of antibody production depends on CD4+ T cell depletion. However, the decrease in titers is less significant in those who continue to actively inject drugs.
AB - Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection adversely affects all stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, leading to increased rates of viral persistence, higher levels of HCV viremia, and accelerated progression of HCV-related liver disease. These disease interactions may result in part from impairment of B cell function, which is CD4+ T cell dependent. Methods. To determine the effect of HIV infection on B cell function, we compared HCV antibody levels and specificities in 29 HCV-infected persons before and after they acquired HIV and assessed the temporal correlation of these changes with overall CD4+ T lymphocyte counts. Results. The pre-HIV infection HCV antibody titer was a predictor of the subsequent titer for all antigens, and decreasing CD4+ T cell numbers was strongly associated with a decrease in anti-HCV titers for several antigens. CD4+ T cells counts of <500 cells/mm3 were significantly associated with lower HCV antibody end-point titers. Higher HCV end-point titers were associated with fewer years from HIV infection and, for Core antigen, current drug use. Conclusions. HCV-specific antibody production is impaired by HIV infection, and loss of antibody production depends on CD4+ T cell depletion. However, the decrease in titers is less significant in those who continue to actively inject drugs.
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U2 - 10.1086/511826
DO - 10.1086/511826
M3 - Article
C2 - 17299716
AN - SCOPUS:33847686361
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 195
SP - 857
EP - 863
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 6
ER -