GBV-C coinfection is negatively correlated to Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis in HIV-1 infected patients

✍ Scribed by Maren Moenkemeyer; Reinhold E. Schmidt; Heiner Wedemeyer; Hans L. Tillmann; Hans Heiken

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 130 KB
• Volume: 80
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21305

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Persistent coinfection with the apathogenic GB virus C (GBV‐C) is associated with slower disease progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1 infection. Aim of this study was to investigate whether Fas plays a role in this beneficial effect. Fas expression and susceptibility to Fas‐mediated apoptosis (FMA) was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HIV‐1 patients coinfected and non‐coinfected with GBV‐C. Fas expression and function was evaluated in 42 GBV‐C coinfected and 101 non‐coinfected HIV‐1 patients. Thirteen healthy and 11 Hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐monoinfected individuals were analyzed as controls. Cell surface Fas expression was determined by flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis was evaluated by staining with Annexin V and Viaprobe followed by multiparameter flow cytometry analysis. In untreated HIV‐1 patients GBV‐C coinfection was associated with significantly lower percentage of Fas expressing cells as compared to GBV‐C non‐coinfected individuals. Expression of Fas was directly correlated with sensitivity to Fas‐mediated apoptosis. Sensitivity to FMA was unchanged in GBV‐C coinfected patients. PBMCs of patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) did not show such a difference. Untreated HIV‐1 patients with GBV‐C coinfection have reduced cell surface Fas expression. Lower FMA of T‐cells might contribute to prolonged survival of GBV‐C coinfected HIV‐1 patients. J. Med. Virol. 80:1933–1940, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.