HIV-1 and GBV-C co-infection in Venezuela

Authors

  • Anny Karely Rodriguez Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Domingo José Garzaro Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Carmen Luisa Loureiro Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Cristina R Gutierrez Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Gladys Ameli Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Rossana Celeste Jaspe Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Leticia Porto Laboratorio Regional de Referencia Virológica, LUZ, Maracaibo, Venezuela
  • Francisca Monsalve Laboratorio Regional de Referencia Virológica, LUZ, Maracaibo, Venezuela
  • Angela Pozada Escuela de Bioanálisis Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Luzmary Vázquez Hospital Central de Barquisimeto, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
  • Miguel E Quinones-Mateu Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
  • Flor Helene Pujol Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
  • Hector Rafael Rangel Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3830

Keywords:

HIV-1, cytokines, co-infection, GBV-C

Abstract

Introduction: Co-infection with GB virus C (GBV-C) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) has been associated with prolonged survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of GBV-C infection among HIV-1-infected patients in Venezuela, and to determine the effects of the co-infection on the levels of relevant cytokines.

Methodology: Plasma samples were collected from 270 HIV-1-seronegative and 255 HIV-1-seropositive individuals. GBV-C infection was determined by RT-PCR of the NS5 region and genotyped by sequence analysis of the 5´UTR region. HIV-1 strains were characterized by sequence analysis of pol, vif, env, and nef genes. Selected cytokines were evaluated by ELISA.

Results: Ninety-seven of 525 (18.5%) plasma samples tested positive for GBV-C RNA. A significantly higher prevalence of GBV-C was found among HIV-1 patients compared to HIV-1-seronegative individuals (67/255, 26% versus 30/270, 11%; p < 0.001). Statistical difference was observed in the viral load between HIV-1+GBV-C+ and HIV-1+GBV-C- (p = 0.014), although no differences in CD4+ cell counts were found between both groups. TNFα concentration was higher in HIV-1+GBV-C- than in HIV-1+GBV-C+ patients (25.9 pg/mL versus 17.3 pg/mL; p = 0.02); RANTES expression levels were more variable in GBV-C co-infected patients and more frequently elevated in HIV-1 mono-infected patients compared to patients co-infected with GBV-C.

Conclusions: The previously observed beneficial effect of co-infection with HIV-1 and GBV-C on disease progression is complex and might be due in part to a change in the cytokine environment. More studies are required to understand the interaction between both viruses.

Author Biography

Hector Rafael Rangel, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela

Laboratorio de Virología Molecular

Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular

Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas

Hector R Rangel (PhD) Associate Research

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Published

2014-07-14

How to Cite

1.
Rodriguez AK, Garzaro DJ, Loureiro CL, Gutierrez CR, Ameli G, Jaspe RC, Porto L, Monsalve F, Pozada A, Vázquez L, Quinones-Mateu ME, Pujol FH, Rangel HR (2014) HIV-1 and GBV-C co-infection in Venezuela. J Infect Dev Ctries 8:863–868. doi: 10.3855/jidc.3830

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 07: July 2014

Section

Original Articles

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