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

Abstract

Immuneactivation 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. © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.