Association of interleukin-15-induced peripheral immune activation with hepatic stellate cell activation in persons coinfected with hepatitis C virus and HIV
Robert D Allison, Antonios Katsounas, Deloris E Koziol, David E Kleiner, Harvey J Alter, Richard A Lempicki, Brad Wood, Jun Yang, Brandie Fullmer, Karoll J Cortez, Michael A Polis, Shyam Kottilil, Robert D Allison, Antonios Katsounas, Deloris E Koziol, David E Kleiner, Harvey J Alter, Richard A Lempicki, Brad Wood, Jun Yang, Brandie Fullmer, Karoll J Cortez, Michael A Polis, Shyam Kottilil
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) mediate hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver fibrosis, and increased HSC activation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfection may be associated with accelerated fibrosis. We examined the level of HSC activation in HIV/HCV-coinfected and HCV-monoinfected subjects and its relationship to the level of activation and gene expression of peripheral immune cells in coinfected subjects. HSC activation levels positively correlated with peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune activation and were associated with enhanced interleukin-15 (IL-15) gene expression, suggesting a pathogenic role for IL-15-driven immunomediated hepatic fibrosis. Future strategies that reduce immune activation and HSC activation may delay progression of liver fibrosis.
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Source: PubMed