The quantity study of viral specific CTL in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus
Objective To investigate the mechanism of viral specific CTL affecting progression in patients coinfected with HIV/HCV. Methods The patients were divided into three groups, HIV/HCV coinfection group (n=40), simple HIV infection group (n=20), and simple HCV infection group (n=20). Flow cytometry was used to exam viral specific CTL. A prospective study was designed to compare the difference of HIV specific CTL between HIV/HCV coinfection group and HIV group, compare the difference of HCV specific CTL between HIV/HCV coinfection group and HCV group, and analyze the relationship of HIV specific CTL and HCV specific CTL in HIV/HCV coinfection. Results There is no difference of HIV specific CTL between HIV/HCV coinfection group and HIV group (P=0.586). Percentage and absolute count of HCV specific CTL in HIV/HCV coinfection group are 0.37±0.29 and 3.52±3.79, higher than those in HCV group (0.15±0.05, 0.86±0.33, P=~0.001 , P=0.002). There was positive linear correlation between HIV specific CTL and HCV specific CTL cell count in HIV/HCV group (r2=0.761, P0.001). Conclusion HCV-specific CTL may play an important role on aggravating impairment of liver function of patients with HIV/HCV coinfection. There is an interaction between HIV and HCV in vivo.