The frequency, activation, and coreceptor expression of lymphocytes in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients in China.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the frequency, activation, and coreceptor expression of lymphocytes in Chinese human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients, and to study the impact of HCV on immune status and disease progression of HIV infection. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the numbers of T cells and NK cells, the level of activation and the coreceptors of T lymphocytes in different disease stages among 110 HIV/HCV co-infected and 101 HIV mono-infected patients. With disease progression, co-infected patients expressed lower numbers of CD4 T-cells and NK cells, and higher activation levels and coreceptor expression of T lymphocytes. Compared to the counts of HIV mono-infected patients, the NK cell counts of co-infected patients were significantly lower in the asymptomatic HIV-infected and AIDS groups, and the levels of HLA-DR and CXCR4 were significantly elevated in the AIDS group. The viral load of HIV and HCV in the co-infected group increased gradually with the progression of disease. With disease progression, the immune status of HIV/HCV co-infected patients decreased gradually, and the HIV viral load increased. HCV appears to accelerate the natural course of the HIV disease by damaging the innate immune function and aggravating the levels of activating markers and coreceptors on T lymphocytes in co-infected patients.