HCV eradication with IFN-based therapy does not completely restore gene expression in PBMCs from HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

Objective: To evaluate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination via interferon (IFN)-based therapy on gene expression profiles related to the immune system in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in 28 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving IFN-based therapy...

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Autores: Brochado Kith, Óscar|||0000-0001-8372-2604, Martínez, Isidoro|||0000-0002-9949-9264, Berenguer, Juan|||0000-0001-8541-8200, Medrano, Luz María|||0000-0003-3717-5384, González-García, Juan|||0000-0002-3652-002X, Jiménez-Sousa, María Ángeles|||0000-0002-1945-6169, Carrero, Ana, Hontañón Antoñana, Víctor|||0000-0003-3070-2647, Navarro, Jordi|||0000-0002-7187-0367, Guardiola Tey, Jose Maria|||0000-0001-5537-2600, Fernández-Rodríguez, Amanda|||0000-0002-5110-2213, Resino, Salvador|||0000-0001-8783-0450
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:272080
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/272080
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1186/s12929-021-00718-6
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:HIV/HCV coinfection
Gene expression
Immune system
HCV clearance
Interferon therapy
PBMCs
Descripción
Sumario:Objective: To evaluate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination via interferon (IFN)-based therapy on gene expression profiles related to the immune system in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in 28 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving IFN-based therapy at baseline (HIV/HCV-b) and week 24 after sustained virological response (HIV/HCV-f). Twenty-seven HIV-monoinfected patients (HIV-mono) were included as a control. RNA-seq analysis was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Genes with a fold-change (FC) ≥ 1.5 (in either direction) and false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05 were identified as significantly differentially expressed (SDE). Results: HIV/HCV-b showed six SDE genes compared to HIV-mono group, but no significantly enriched pathways were observed. For HIV/HCV-f vs. HIV/HCV-b, we found 58 SDE genes, 34 upregulated and 24 downregulated in the HIV/HCV-f group. Of these, the most overexpressed were CXCL2, PDCD6IP, ATP5B, IGSF9, RAB26, and CSRNP1, and the most downregulated were IFI44 and IFI44L. These 58 SDE genes revealed two significantly enriched pathways (FDR < 0.05), one linked to Epstein-Barr virus infection and another related to p53 signaling. For HIV/HCV-f vs. HIV-mono group, we found 44 SDE genes that revealed 31 enriched pathways (FDR < 0.05) related to inflammation, cancer/cell cycle alteration, viral and bacterial infection, and comorbidities associated with HIV/HCV-coinfection. Five genes were overrepresented in most pathways (JUN, NFKBIA, PIK3R2, CDC42, and STAT3). Conclusion: HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who eradicated hepatitis C with IFN-based therapy showed profound gene expression changes after achieving sustained virological response. The altered pathways were related to inflammation and liver-related complications, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, underscoring the need for active surveillance for these patients.