Altered T-cell subsets in HIV-1 natural viral suppressors (elite controllers) with hepatitis C infection

Abstract

We have established a cohort of 64 Natural Viral Suppressors (NVS) (similar to Elite Controllers/Elite Suppressors), 30 of which have chronic HCV. We investigated T cell phenotypic changes in association with HCV infection. NVS without HCV and normal controls had similar T cell phenotypes. However, NVS with HCV had lower naïve cell proportions (CD4 and CD8) compared to NVS without HCV (p=.0008 and p=.02) or normal controls (p=.0163 and p=.017). These results and previous reported data suggest that HCV co-infection increases immune activation and T cell disturbances. Any associated T cell functional changes or potential clinical consequences need further study.

Higher Activation in CD4+ T Cells But Similar Viral Control Among HIV/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected Patients on a Simplification Monotherapy

“…26 This suggestion relies on the impaired liver function and thus impaired microbial clearance caused by HCV infection. However, we, as others, 25 have not observed this fact, since no significant differences among the 24 months of follow-up were found in LPS, 16S rDNA, or sCD14 levels. However, this observation should be corroborated by larger longitudinal studies.…”

“…25 These differences in the IA profile are not influenced by the number of HIV viremic patients in each group, since both groups showed a similar proportion of patients with intermittent viremia and virological failure (approximately 30%). Obviously the emergence of episodes of virological failure was intimately linked to increases in the IA profiles of both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, as previously reported.…”

“…12,13 The observation that chronic HCV viremia is associated with lower CD4 + T cell counts and elevated levels of IA among this CD4 + subset strongly suggests that the mechanism that guides both phenomenon is tightly linked. 21,25 Thus, although in the absence of significantly higher levels of MT and IA, at least among CD8 + T cells, the significant differences found in CD4 + counts and IA suggest that the introduction of anti-HCV therapy might improve both facts, potentially avoiding higher levels of IA and subsequently a major risk for other clinical complications.…”

Repeated Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Setting of Long-Term Non-Progression of HIV Infection

“…A number of factors may help predict spontaneous clearance, such as treatment-associated immune reconstitution and the presence of certain genetic polymorphisms (IL28B-CC and HLA-B57 among them). 9 , 14-16 In a Spanish study of HIV/HCV co-infected individuals, 75 HIV controllers, (including 33 LTNP and 42 elite controllers) were compared to 261 other subjects with a broad range of HIV plasma viral load measures above 1000 copies/mL. All HIV controllers, including elite controllers, had lower circulating HCV viral load measures, and the presence of the HLA-B57 allele was predictive of lower values across all groups.…”

Differences in intermittent and continuous fecal shedding patterns between natural and experimental Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infections in cattle

“…The idea of elite controllers, infected individuals with pathogen loads below the detection threshold, have been reported for HIV [ 13 , 14 ] and may be present in the case of MAP. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases, progression may be triggered in a portion of infected individuals by secondary exposure [ 15 ].…”