Low cross-neutralization of hepatitis C correlates with liver disease in immunocompromized patients. (1st June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maurin, Guillemette; Halgand, Boris; Bruscella, Patrice; Fresquet, Judith; Duclos-Vallée, Jean-Charles; Roque-Afonso, Anne-Marie; Cosset, François-Loïc; Samuel, Didier; Lavillette, Dimitri; Féray, Cyrille
• Is Part Of: AIDS. Volume 29:Number 9(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-06-01
• Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; AIDS (Disease); Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.9792005
• DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000651
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9370

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background and aims:</title> <p>Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes severe liver disease in HIV-infected patients and liver transplant recipients. The impact of serum and immunoglobulin on viral entry was analysed in these patients.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Method:</title> <p>Sera from 60 anti-HCV positive patients, including 30 who were also anti-HIV positive, were tested with HCVpp from different genotypes (1a, 1b, 3 and 4) and with HCVcc (H77/JFH1). Seventeen HIV-seropositive and 13 HIV-seronegative patients with decompensated liver disease were studied before and after liver transplant.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>Serum neutralization was markedly lower after liver transplant and in HIV patients than in mono-infected immune-competent individuals. This effect was due to low antibody-mediated neutralization. In HIV patients, low neutralization was correlated with low lymphocyte T CD4<sup>+</sup> cell counts and the severity of liver disease. To characterize neutralization, we tested HCVpp lacking hypervariable region (HVR1) and SR-BI receptor cholesterol transfer inhibition by BLT-4. These experiments showed that neutralization was strongly dependent on the HVR1 and the SR-BI receptor. HVR1 sequences showed that selective pressures were low in immune-compromised patients and highly correlated to HCV neutralization after liver transplant. Neutralization experiments were reproduced with HCV strain JFH1.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>Serum neutralization in HIV-coinfected patients and HCV-infected liver transplant recipients is poor enhancing HCV entry through HVR1/SR-BI interplay. This may contribute to the severity of hepatitis C in these settings.</p> </sec> </abstract>