Evaluation of interferon producing cells count in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis G co-infected patients

Interferon producing cells have an important role in controlling HIV. The interferon producing cell count was evaluated in order to study the possibility of immune modulating qualification of HGV co-infection in HIV patients’ safety. This descriptive study was performed on 83 HIV positive patients with CD4+ cell count >400 to evaluate the interferon producing cell count. These 83 patients were categorized in 4 groups based on their current infection status. Patients infected with HCV and HGV (HGV+/HCV+), patients infected with HGV but not with HCV (HGV-C+/HCV-), patients infected with HCV but not with HGV (HGV-/HCV+) and patients not infected by HGV and HCV (HGV-/HCV-). Interferon producing cell analysis was performed by flow cytometric method and the presence of -HGV RNA by using RT-PCR and PCR-Elisa. Interferon producing cell count in HGV co-infected individuals revealed a wider range of numbers however there was no significant difference in the interferon producing cells count between HIV infected patients with and without HGV co-infection. HGV/HCV co-infection doesnt have an effective role on increasing of production or rotation of interferon producing cell in HIV infected patients with relatively intact immune system.