CD8(+) T cell activation in women coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Immune activation is a hallmark of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and impacts innate and adaptive immunity. Individuals coinfected with HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) may have increased immune activation early in HIV disease because of a high HCV antigen load in tissues such as the liver. We evaluated T cell markers of activation and maturation in women with or without HIV-1 infection, by HCV antibody and HCV RNA status. We found increased percentages of activated CD8(+) T cells (i.e., CD8(+)HLA-DR(+)38(+) cells and CD8(+)CD28(+)HLA-DR(+) cells) but not of CD4(+) T cells among women who tested positive for HIV-1, HCV antibody, and HCV RNA, compared with HIV-1-positive women who tested negative for HCV antibody. Because CD8(+) T cell activation is related to HIV-1 disease progression, these data may have implications for the medical management of patients coinfected with HIV-1 and HCV.

Figure 1

A, Relationship between the plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) load and the percentage of CD8⁺DR⁺38⁺ cells, by hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody and HCV RNA statuses, among women with HIV-1 infection (HIV⁺). Lower limit of detection (LLD), ≤2.60 log₁₀ copies/mL (≤4000 copies/mL). B, Relationship between the baseline plasma HCV RNA load and the percentage of CD8⁺DR⁺38⁺ cells, by HIV-1 infection status, among HCV antibody–positive [HCV⁺] women. LLD, ≤1 log₁₀ IU/mL (≤10 IU/mL). HCV⁻, HCV antibody negative; HIV⁻, HIV negative; RNA⁺, HCV RNA positive; RNA⁻, HCV RNA negative.