Coinfection with hepatitis C virus increases lymphocyte apoptosis in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

To test the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in CD4 cell depletion in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients, T cell apoptosis was measured by annexin V labeling in 31 HIV-infected and 30 HIV-HCV-coinfected patients who were not receiving antiretroviral therapy. Apoptosis in naive CD4(+) T cells and in naive and memory CD8(+) T cells was significantly higher in HIV-HCV-coinfected than in monoinfected patients.