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<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>CD8+ T-cell responses are an essential antiviral host defense in persistent viral infections, and their sustained effectiveness is thought to be critically dependent on CD4+ T-helper cells. To determine the relationship between HIV-1–induced CD4+ T-cell depletion and hepatitis C virus (HCV)–specific CD8+ T-cell responses during viral persistence, we studied 103 persons positive for HCV, 74 coinfected with HIV-1. CD8+ T-cell responses to the entire HCV polyprotein were determined by using an interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay. Although HIV-1 infection by itself was not associated with a diminished HCV-specific response, HIV-1–associated CD4+ depletion was associated with significantly lower HCV-specific CD8+ T cells (R = 0.48, P &lt; .0001). In contrast, declining CD4+ counts over the same range were not associated with diminished Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)– (R = 0.19, P = .31) or HIV-1–specific (R = –0.13, P = .60) CD8+ T-cell responses in persons infected with all viruses. These data indicate that frequencies of circulating HCV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are sensitive to absolute CD4+ T-cell counts and provide a possible explanation for the accelerated HCV disease course in persons coinfected with HIV-1 and HCV.</jats:p>

Original publication

DOI

10.1182/blood-2004-06-2336

Type

Journal article

Journal

Blood

Publisher

American Society of Hematology

Publication Date

01/02/2005

Volume

105

Pages

1170 - 1178