Intrahepatic cytokine expression is downregulated during HCV/HIV co-infection.

HIV co-infection is associated with reduced HCV treatment response rates and accelerated HCV-related liver disease. Cytokines play an important role in regulating hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis during chronic HCV infection, yet the roles of HIV and/or its therapies on cytokine expression are unknown. Total RNA was extracted from liver biopsies of 12 HCV mono-infected and 14 HCV/HIV co-infected persons. We used real-time PCR to quantify cytokines that contribute to innate and adaptive immune responses, including IFNalpha, IFNgamma, TNFalpha, TGFbeta(1), IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12p40. Positive- and negative-strand HCV RNA levels were quantified using a molecular beacon approach. Detection of positive-strand HCV RNA was 100% in both groups; negative-strand HCV RNA was detected in four (33%) HCV mono-infected persons and in nine (64%) HCV/HIV co-infected persons. Median strand-specific HCV RNA levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Detection rates of cytokine mRNAs were lower for the HCV/HIV co-infected group compared to the HCV mono-infected group; the detection rates for TNFalpha, IL-8, and IL-10 were statistically significant. Overall, cytokine mRNA quantities were lower for HCV/HIV co-infected compared to HCV mono-infected persons, with the exception of TGFbeta1. These data suggest that a defect in cytokine activation may occur in HCV/HIV co-infected persons that limits efficient clearance of HCV from the liver.

Blackard JT ，Komurian-Pradel F ，Perret M ，Sodoyer M ，Smeaton L ，St Clair JB ，Chapman S ，Taylor LE ，Paranhos-Baccalà G ，Chung RT ... -  《JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY》

Intrahepatic mRNA expression in hepatitis C virus and HIV/hepatitis C virus co-infection: infiltrating cells, cytokines, and influence of HAART.

Kuntzen T ，Tural C ，Li B ，Feldmann G ，Kupfer B ，Nischalke HD ，Clotet B ，Sauerbruch T ，Rockstroh JK ，Spengler U ... -  《-》

Hepatic inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in hepatitis C virus-human immunodeficiency virus co-infection.

Gonzalez SA ，Zhang C ，Fiel MI ，Chung S ，Zhang L ，Jacobson IM ，Talal AH ... -  《-》

Naive HIV/HCV-coinfected patients have higher intrahepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines than coinfected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy.

Sitia G ，De Bona A ，Bagaglio S ，Galli L ，Paties CT ，Uberti-Foppa C ，Guidotti LG ，Lazzarin A ，Morsica G ... -  《ANTIVIRAL THERAPY》

Intrahepatic cytokine profiles associated with posttransplantation hepatitis C virus-related liver injury.

Zekry A ，Bishop GA ，Bowen DG ，Gleeson MM ，Guney S ，Painter DM ，McCaughan GW ... -  《LIVER TRANSPLANTATION》