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.

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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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