Tissue presentation of human pegivirus infection in liver transplanted recipients. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lankarani, Kamran Bagheri; Yaghobi, Ramin; Pourkarim, Mahmoud Reza; Moayedi, Javad; Mohammadi, Zohreh Ali; Thijssen, Marijn; Geramizadeh, Bita; Malekhosseini, Seyed Ali; Maharlouei, Najmeh; Shahraki, Hadi Raeisi
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 167(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Human pegivirus -- Liver -- Transplantation; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) is known for its protective role in HIV co-infected individuals. This immunomodulatory effect raised questions concerning the possible role of HPgV-1 infection and the risk of rejection in liver transplanted patients. We aimed to evaluate the possible protective effect of HPgV-1 on graft outcome of liver transplanted patients. A total of 283 patients were recruited. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected from the explanted liver. HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, and HPgV-1-RNA were determined using PCR and multiplex RT-PCR assays. The clinical course of patients including the occurrence of acute cellular rejection was compared between HPgV-1-infected vs . uninfected patients. HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA and HPgV-1-RNA were detected in 42.6%, 4.9%, and 7.8% of samples, respectively. None of the HPgV-1-infected patients experienced graft rejection. Group LASSO logistic regression revealed that HPgV-1 infection was the only factor which significantly reduced the odds of graft rejection (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.29–0.89). No significant association was found between the presence of HPgV-1 with HBV and HCV infections. The lack of graft rejection in HPgV-1-infected liver transplanted patients might indicate a possible role of this virus for graft surveillance. Since these are still preliminary findings, prospective studies should further elucidate the role of HPgV-1 in liver transplantation outcomes. Highlights: Absence of acute cellular rejection in HPgV-1 infected liver transplanted patients. No significant association between HPgV-1 with HBV and HCV infections. HPgV-1 infection might affect post-liver transplant outcomes.