Interleukin-27 is differentially associated with HIV viral load and CD4+ T cell counts in therapy-naïve HIV-mono-infected and HIV/HCV-co-infected Chinese

PLoS One. 2014 May 9;9(5):e96792. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096792. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the resultant Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic are major global health challenges; hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection has made the HIV/AIDS epidemic even worse. Interleukin-27 (IL-27), a cytokine which inhibits HIV and HCV replication in vitro, associates with HIV infection and HIV/HCV co-infection in clinical settings. However, the impact of HIV and HCV viral loads on plasma IL-27 expression levels has not been well characterized. In this study, 155 antiretroviral therapy-naïve Chinese were recruited. Among them 80 were HIV- and HCV-negative healthy controls, 45 were HIV-mono-infected and 30 were HIV/HCV-co-infected. Plasma level HIV, HCV, IL-27 and CD4+ number were counted and their correlation, regression relationships were explored. We show that: plasma IL-27 level was significantly upregulated in HIV-mono-infected and HIV/HCV-co-infected Chinese; HIV viral load was negatively correlated with IL-27 titer in HIV-mono-infected subjects whereas the relationship was opposite in HIV/HCV-co-infected subjects; and the relationships between HIV viral loads, IL-27 titers and CD4+ T cell counts in the HIV mono-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection groups were dramatically different. Overall, our results suggest that IL-27 differs in treatment-naïve groups with HIV mono-infections and HIV/HCV co-infections, thereby providing critical information to be considered when caring and treating those with HIV mono-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  • China
  • Coinfection*
  • Female
  • HIV / drug effects
  • HIV / physiology*
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-27 / blood*
  • Male
  • Viral Load* / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Interleukin-27

Grants and funding

This study is partially supported by the Natural Basic Science Development Program (2013CB911302) of China, a RGC-GRF grant (464512) and Bureau of Innovative Science and Technology of Shenzhen (JCYJ20130401172046448, JCYJ20120615085419420) (to MLH); and by a CUHK direct grant (4054077) and a RGC-GRF grant (476013) (to MHW). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.