Characteristics of the cellular immune response in HIV/HCV patients with hemophilia during peginterferon/ribavirin therapy in southern China

ObjectiveThe objectives of the study are to characterize the cellular immune response in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and HIV co-infected patients with hemophilia in southern China during treatment with interferon and ribavirin and to study its correlation with the virologic response (VR). Thirty-six HCV genotype 1 and HIV co-infected patients with hemophilia in southern China were enrolled into the study. Using an ELISpot assay, HCV antigen-specific interferon (IFN) γ, interleukin (IL) 2, IL-4, and IL-10 secreting cells were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL28B were determined, and immunological, virologic, and clinical variables were collected to identify factors associated with HCV-sustained VR (SVR) at week 72 after treatment. At baseline, there were no significant differences in IFN-γ and IL-2 mediated immune responses in subjects with VR versus non-responders. Higher IL-10 specific responses to NS3 were observed in VR patients. Subjects who had significant decreases in IL-10 responses at week 72 compared with baseline for NS3 and NS5 were more likely to be VR. In SVR, IL-2 production decreased moderately, and the levels of IL-4 were low throughout. The main correlation for SVR in genotype-l infected subjects was sustained HCV-specific IFN-γ responses through the whole 72-week period. In subjects with HIV and HCV co-infection combined with hemophilia, IL28B genotype CC, a decrease in HCV specific IL-l0 and IL-2 responses, and the maintenance of IFN-γ responses during treatment were associated with a 12- or 72-week VR.