As described in the May 2008 Journal of Viral Hepatitis, researchers
conducted a study to investigate whether severe immunodeficiency in
HIV-HCV coinfected individuals is associated with changes in inflammatory
cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the liver, which may play a role in fibrosis.
The investigators measured mRNA levels of the cytokines interferon gamma
(IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (IFN-alpha), transforming growth factor
beta-1 (TGF-beta-1), interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10, IL-12p35, and IL-12p40 using
real-time PCR performed on liver specimens from 19 HCV monoinfected and 24 HIV-HCV
coinfected patients. Results
•
HIV-HCV coinfected patients had decreased intrahepatic mRNA levels of IFN-gamma
(P = 0.09), IL-4 (P = 0.05), and IL-12p35 (P = 0.04) compared with HCV monoinfected
patients.
•
Conversely, IL-10 was elevated in coinfected subjects (P = 0.07).
•
In coinfected patients, IFN-gamma mRNA levels increased linearly with increasing
CD4 cell counts, by 1.23 times for every increase of 100 cells/mm3 (P = 0.02).
•
No other cytokines were significantly associated with CD4 cell count.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, the authors wrote, "HIV-induced lymphopenia may result in hepatic
inflammatory cytokine suppression" in HIV-HCV coinfected patients. In particular,
"Intrahepatic IFN-gamma levels are significantly reduced in patients with
advanced immunodeficiency."
They added that, "Further studies
are needed to assess whether decreased IFN-gamma secretion by HCV-specific CD4+
cells may account for accelerated fibrogenesis in these patients."
4/15/08
Reference SA
Gonzalez, C Zhang, MI Fiel, and others. Hepatic inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression
in hepatitis C virus-human immunodeficiency virus co-infection. Journal of
Viral Hepatitis 15(5): 331-338. May 2008.
Altered
Cytokine Levels May Explain More Rapid Liver Fibrosis Progression in HIV-HCV Coinfected
Individuals 
Results
