Hepatitis C therapy with interferon-α and ribavirin reduces the CD4 cell count and the total, 2LTR circular and integrated HIV-1 DNA in HIV/HCV co-infected patients

• IFN-α, ribavirin and HAART combined treatment could reduce 2LTR circular HIV DNA more than only HAART treatment.
• IFN-α, ribavirin and HAART combined treatment could reduce total and integrated HIV DNA more than only HAART treatment.
• CD4 cell count decreased in IFN-α and ribavirin treatment patients.

This study investigated whether treatment with IFN-α and ribavirin (RBV) reduces 2LTR circular HIV DNA in addition to the total and integrated HIV DNA. Two groups of patients were enrolled. Group 1 comprised HIV/HCV co-infected patients who were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), IFN-α and RBV for 48 weeks. After the 48 weeks of treatment, IFN-α and RBV treatment was discontinued and HAART was continued. Group 2 comprised HIV-infected patients who were treated with HAART. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify the levels of HIV-1 DNA. We found that compared with Group 2 patients, Group 1 patients exhibited an obvious decrease in the CD4 cell count and the total DNA, 2LTR circular DNA, and integrated HIV DNA after 48 weeks of treatment. After the discontinuation of IFN-α and RBV treatment in Group 1 patients, the levels of HIV DNA recovered. Therefore, we concluded that treatment with IFN-α and ribavirin (RBV) reduces 2LTR circular HIV DNA.