Hepatitis B vaccination in infants of mothers infected with human immunodeficiency virus

A study was conducted to investigate the immunogenicity of a recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine in neonates and children of HIV-infected women. Immunization against hepatitis B consisted of three 10 μg doses of the vaccine administered on a 0-, 1- and 6-month schedule. The children were followed up for an average of 11 months. Of the 118 HIV-positive neonates who participated in the study, 95 lost their HIV antibodies during the follow-up period. Most (94.2%) of the latter who completed the study responded to the vaccine. Of the 23 who remained HIV-positive, 17 completed the study and 7 produced hepatitis B antibodies. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, inc.     

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific memory B-cell responses in transiently and chronically infected HIV positive individuals

BackgroundAntibody responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) occur delayed and overly decline after viral clearance indicating that the B-cell response to HCV is abnormal. Virus-specific memory B-cells have recently been found in infected individuals, but the viral exposure requirements for the generation of these cells is unknown.ObjectivesThe primary goal of this study was to quantify and compare the HCV-specific memory B-cell response between chronic and resolved HCV-infected individuals. A secondary goal was to examine if HIV-specific memory B-cell responses are maintained during HCV co-infection.Study designHCV core protein- and HIV-specific memory B-cell responses were examined in HIV/HCV-infected individuals treated 4–30 weeks after HCV diagnosis. Memory B-cell frequencies were compared between chronically and transiently infected individuals.ResultsChronically infected individuals had vigorous HCV-specific memory B-cell responses and antibodies, whereas subjects with transient viremia showed low or undetectable virus-specific B-cell responses. In addition, chronically HIV/HCV-infected subjects had robust HIV-specific memory B-cell responses.ConclusionsWhereas chronic HCV infection induces virus-specific antibodies and memory B-cells, transient infection in individuals with sustained viral response to therapy does not stimulate a durable HCV-specific B-cell response indicating that the formation of long-lived virus-specific B-cells is suppressed in the early phase of infection. This may contribute to the inability to spontaneously clear HCV infection.     

肝病产妇丙型肝炎病毒母婴传播的可能性调查

对１９９１～１９９３年在南京市钟阜医院肝病产科住院的１０４７例肝病产妇中１２例丙型肝炎病毒抗体和／或丙型肝炎病毒核糖核酸阳性者，追踪观察了所生１２名婴儿的丙型肝炎病毒感染情况，发现１例抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ均阳性的孕妇所生的婴儿，０、１、６和１２个月时抗－ＨＣＶ和ＨＣＶＲＮＡ均阳性，且该婴儿ＨＣＶ的血清型与母亲一致。结果提示，肝病产妇丙型肝炎病毒母婴传播是可能的，但不是主要的传播途径。     

Hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients—therapeutic approach

The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has extended the lifespan of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As the prognosis of HIV infection has improved, liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become clinically significant in patients with HIV, liver failure being a frequent cause of death in this population. HIV infection may accelerate the course of liver disease in patients co-infected with HCV, so infection with HCV should be treated like any other opportunistic disease in these patients. Nowadays, combination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin is the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C in HIV-negative patients. Preliminary results of combination therapy in HIV/HCV co-infected patients have been promising, showing a sustained response rate in 40% of these patients. Patients with higher CD4 counts and lower HCV/HIV viral load and those infected with HCV genotype 3a have a better response to therapy. Potential drug interactions between HAART therapy and interferon and ribavirin treatment emphasize the importance of initiating treatment of HCV infection in HIV-positive individuals as soon as possible and ideally before the need for anti-HIV therapy. Recent case reports have suggested that liver transplantation might be an appropriate procedure in HIV patients with undetectable HIV viral load, high CD4 counts and HCV advanced liver disease. However, the limited amount of available information and the complexities of drug interactions between HAART therapy and immunosuppressive drugs oblige us to be prudent within considering such a procedure.     

Hepatitis B, C seroprevalence and delta viruses in HIV-1 Senegalese patients at HAART initiation (retrospective study)

The aim of this study was to determine hepatitis co-infection in a cohort of HIV infected patients at their inclusion in the Senegalese Initiative of ART Access. B, C, and D Hepatitis viruses serological markers were checked retrospectively on 363 stored plasma. For HBV, the Abbott laboratories equipment IMx was used to detect HBs Ag and anti Core Ab on negative HBs Ag samples. For HDV, anti Delta Ab was performed using the Abbott Murex Kit on all HBs Ag positive samples. For HCV, anti HCV Ab was detected by IMx as double screening test and confirmed by INNO-LIA(TM) HCV Core of Innogenetics laboratories. The statistical analysis was done with STATA V8. The study population was composed of 164 men and 199 women aged between 16 and 66 years. The immune and virological markers averages at their enrollment were 154 cell/mm(3) for TLCD4+ (n = 355 patients) and 4.9 log for viral load (n = 277 patients). HBs Ag was found in 61 patients or 16.8% and the prevalence of anti-HBc Ab was 83.2% (252/295). 2 patients or 3% on HBs Ag positive sample presents HBV/HDV co-infection Ab anti HCV was detects in 6 patients or 1.6% after confirmation and 2 patients had triple infection with HBV. These results showed that the prevalence of HBV and HCV in the population of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Senegal is similar to that found in the general population. Our data indicated that hepatitis pathology in the PLwHIV was essentially due to HBV. Further studies are needed to diagnose occult hepatitis in order to set up therapeutic strategies taking into account co-infections by hepatitis viruses in the ART programmes.     

Humoral immunity to immunodominant epitopes of Hepatitis C virus in individuals infected with genotypes 1a or 1b

Cellular immunity against multiple Hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins is observed in patients acutely infected with HCV most of whom later resolve infection. We wished to assess humoral immunity in patients infected with HCV 1a or 1b genotypes in relation to viral load using plasma samples from HCV-infected individuals and a panel of peptides representing immunodominant epitopes of HCV structural and nonstructural proteins. Plasma from HCV 1a- and 1b-infected patients, respectively, were divided into two groups: patients with low viral load (<==100,000 RNA copies/ml) and patients with high viral load (>/=10,000,000 RNA copies/ml). The antigens were peptides representing epitopes from immunodominant regions of HCV core, E2, NS3, and NS4 proteins, as well as the hypervariable (HVR) epitopes in E2 from genotypes 1a and 1b. Individuals infected with HCV 1a evoked a stronger immune response to many immunodominant epitopes of HCV relative to individuals infected with HCV 1b. Moreover, among individuals infected with HCV 1a, those with low viral loads mounted significantly greater responses against these epitopes than did individuals with high viral loads. Our observations demonstrate that quantitatively different antibody responses are elicited against HCV depending on the genotype of infecting virus, and suggest that humoral immunity directed against multiple immunodominant epitopes in HCV 1a-infected individuals may help lower viral load in vivo.     

Hepatitis C virus and hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus that is unable to integrate into the host genome. However, its proteins interact with various host proteins and induce host responses. The oncogenic process of HCV infection is slow and insidious and probably requires multiple steps of genetic and epigenetic alterations, the activation of cellular oncogenes, the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and dysregulation of multiple signal transduction pathways. Stellate cells may transdifferentiate into progenitor cells and possibly be linked to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Viral proteins also have been implicated in several cellular signal transduction pathways that affect cell survival, proliferation, migration and transformation. Current advances in gene expression profile and selective messenger RNA analysis have improved approach to the pathogenesis of HCC. The heterogeneity of genetic events observed in HCV-related HCCs has suggested that complex mechanisms underlie malignant transformation induced by HCV infection. Considering the complexity and heterogeneity of HCCs of both etiological and genetic aspects, further molecular classification is required and an understanding of these molecular complexities may provide the opportunity for effective chemoprevention and personalized therapy for HCV-related HCC patients in the future. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis induced by HCV infection.     

Hepatic safety in subjects with HIV-1 and hepatitis C and/or B virus: a randomized,double-blind study of maraviroc versus placebo in combination with antiretroviral agents

Background:

One of the more clinically relevant co-morbidities in HIV-infected patients is the development of progressive liver disease due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). In addition, hepatotoxicity has been observed with prolonged use of antiretroviral agents.

Objective:

To evaluate the hepatic safety of maraviroc in combination with other antiretroviral agents in HIV-1-infected subjects co-infected with HCV and/or HBV.

Methods:

In this 148-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study (NCT01327547), subjects received maraviroc twice daily (n?=?70) or placebo (n?=?67) in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Primary endpoint: the percentage at week 48 of subjects with Grade 3 and Grade 4 ALT abnormalities, defined as >5?× upper limit of normal (ULN) if baseline ALT?≤?ULN or >3.5?× baseline if baseline ALT>ULN in the maraviroc versus the placebo arm.

Results:

At week 48, one subject in each group had met the primary endpoint definition. No subjects met protocol-defined liver stopping criteria and there were no cases of Hy's law or treatment-related hepatobiliary serious adverse events. No significant difference in change from baseline in enhanced liver fibrosis or hepatic elastography was observed between groups. Treatment-related hepatobiliary adverse events were reported in one and two subjects receiving maraviroc and placebo, respectively; discontinuations due to treatment-related AEs occurred in four and two subjects receiving maraviroc and placebo, respectively; two deaths were reported in the placebo group.

Conclusions:

The use of maraviroc does not increase hepatotoxicity in HIV-1-infected subjects co-infected with HCV and/or HBV through 48?weeks of treatment.     

Hepatitis B virus reactivation among hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antiviral therapies in routine clinical practice

BackgroundHepatitis B (HBV) reactivation in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with IFN-free direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapies has recently emerged as a potential risk. Given the potential burden of this issue, further data are needed to establish its actual clinical impact.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to analyze the occurrence of HBV reactivation in a cohort of CHC patient treated with DAAs in routine clinical practice.Study designConsecutive CHC patients with different genotypes, treated with DAA between January 2015 and January 2016 were included in the study. Subjects had been tested for HBsAg and anti-HBc antibodies before antiviral therapy. HBV-DNA levels were examined in anti-HBc positive patients at baseline and 24 weeks after the end of treatment. Post-treatment HBsAg determination was performed in case of HBV-DNA positivity. Serum anti-HBs kinetics was analysed in anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive subjects.ResultsA cohort of 137 consecutive HCV patients treated with IFN-free regimens in routine clinical practice was evaluated. From this cohort, plasma samples of 44 subjects with positive serology for HBV (anti-HBc positive) were tested for HBV-DNA levels at baseline and 24 weeks after the end of treatment. Two of them were HBsAg-positive, while the others had signs of a past HBV exposure (HBsAg-negative ± HBsAb-positive). No reactivation was found in HBcAb-positive and HBsAg-negative subjects. In the two HBsAg-positive, one experienced an increase in HBV-DNA levels of ≥2 log₁₀ IU/mL during treatment. However, the reactivation was without clinical impact and, most important, was followed by HBsAg loss.ConclusionsBased on our experience, a past HBV infection seems not to be a condition predisposing to HBV reactivation. On the contrary, in HBsAg-positive subjects not in suppressive treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs, regular monitoring of HBV-DNA during and after DAA treatment should be considered.     

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Estonia

Distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) geno(sub)types among 215 Estonian patients hospitalized with acute or chronic hepatitis and with HCV RNA-positive sera was investigated. For genotyping, both multiplex PCR with subtype-specific primers of the core region and RFLP analysis of cDNA of the 5' NCR region were used. These two methods permitted a correct characterization of genotypes, a more truthful characterization of mixed infections, and combined use of single-tube performances. They revealed, respectively, 200 and 202 (93.0% and 93.9%) HCV-positive samples of sera, subtype 1a- 0.9% and 0.9%, 1b- 56.3% and 64.2%, 3a- 13.9% and 22.3%, 2a- 6.5% and 5.6%, type 4 0.5% and 0%, mixed infections- 13.5% and 0%, and unidentified- 1.4% and 0.9%. In the majority of cases (84.7%) both methods gave completely or partially concordant results; in mixed infections, as determined by subtype-specific PCR, only one subtype was revealed by the RFLP method. In the remaining 15.3% of the cases (Ohno- 7.0%, RFLP- 8.3%) only one of the methods was positive. The epidemiological analysis of the dynamics of the subtypes' relative participation may indicate increasing 3a and decreasing 1b subtype infection during recent years.     

HBV体外感染卵巢颗粒细胞

目的建立HBV体外感染颗粒细胞模型,研究HBV在颗粒细胞中的复制情况,为深入研究HBV经卵细胞母婴垂直传播提供研究平台。方法原代颗粒细胞体外培养后用HBV阳性血清感染。收集培养上清,在不同时点检测HBsAg、HBeAg定量,实时定量PCR检测HBVDNA。免疫组化检测培养细胞中的HBsAg和HBcAg。巢式PCR检测细胞中的HBVDNA及HBV-mRNA。原位杂交检测细胞内的HBVDNA。结果成功建立了HBV体外感染颗粒细胞模型,在培养上清中可以持续96h检测到HBsAg和HBV DNA,在细胞内检测到HBsAg和HBcAg的阳性信号,PCR扩增显示细胞内有HBVD-NA及HBV-mRNA的存在,原位杂交证实细胞内HBVDNA阳性。结论 HBV能够在体外感染颗粒细胞,并在其内复制,该结果为深入研究HBV经卵细胞传播机制提供了很好的研究平台。     

SPRIA法检测360对母婴乙肝八项指标结果的调查分析

通过母婴配对HBV八项血清指标检测,探讨产妇HBV血清指标在不同的感染模式下,对胎儿的传染性。用固相放射免疫的方法(SPRIA),对母亲血清及胎儿脐血中的HBsAg、抗-HBs、HBcAg、抗-HBc、HBeAg、抗-HBe、PHSA-R(聚合蛋白受体)和抗-HBc-IgM等八项进行检测。结果表明,母体出现一项指标以上阳性者170例,占47.2％(170/360),将170例阳性血清归类分析,出现15种感染模式,其中HBsAg阳性者为18例,与之对应的胎儿脐血HBsAg阳性者16例,阴性者2例,说明垂直感染率高达88.8％(16/18)。此外,有2例胎儿脐血HBsAg阳性,而母亲血清仅有抗-HBc阳性。有1例胎儿脐血HBsAg阳性,但母亲HBV八项指标全部阴性。     

Transmission of HIV-1 infection between trophoblast placental cells and T-cells take place via an LFA-1-mediated cell to cell contact

HIV-1 vertical transmission is thought to mainly take place by virus crossing the placental barrier. However, the mechanism by which HIV-1-infects placental cells remains to be elucidated. We have found that purified cytotrophoblasts as well as trophoblastic cell lines are susceptible to infection by different HIV-1 isolates as detected by DNA-PCR and release of infectious virus, although with very low efficiency. Purified trophoblast or trophoblastic cell lines express low levels of chemokine receptors CCR-5 and CXCR-4 but not CD4 on the cell surface. To test if those molecules were used as receptors for HIV-1 infection, placental cells were pretreated with antibodies to CD4, CC-chemokines, C-X-C chemokines. None of those treatments inhibited HIV-1 infection. In contrast, we have found that HIV-1 infection of placental cells was increased in cocultures of infected T-cell blasts and placental cells. More interestingly, antibodies to beta(2) integrins and to LFA-1 were able to significantly block infection of placental cells. Cell surface expression of ICAM-1, an adhesion molecule involved in attachment of leukocytes to placenta, was upregulated in HIV-1-infected placental cells. Placental cells were able to transfer HIV-1 infection to T-cell blasts. This transmission required cell to cell contact and was also inhibited by anti-LFA-1 antibodies. In summary our results suggest that placental trophoblast could be infected by HIV-1 by a mechanism involving T cell to placental contact. Moreover, placental infection enhanced ICAM-1 expression and leukocyte adherence, an event which was required to transfer HIV-1 infection to T cells. This provides an explanation of the virus passing through the placental barrier during in utero HIV-1 vertical transmission.     

Hepatitis C virus in MALT-lymphoma of the ocular adnexa

ObjectiveHepatitis C virus (HCV) has been proposed as a possible etiologic factor in ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphoma (OAML). We aimed to assess the prevalence of HCV infection in patients with OAML through a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsElectronic databases were searched from their inception to August 2019 for studies assessing HCV seroprevalence in patients with OAML. Pooled prevalence of HCV infection was calculated with 95 % confidence interval (CI). Statistical heterogeneity among studies was quantified via the inconsistency index (I²). Funnel plot symmetry was used to assess the risk of bias across studies.ResultsNine studies with 360 patients were included. Overall pooled prevalence of HCV in OAML was 12.7 %, with low statistical heterogeneity (I² = 17.4 %) and with asymmetrical funnel plot. The studies clustered into two groups: 5 studies (3 from Italy and 2 multicenter with a major Italian contribution) showed a higher HCV prevalence in OAML (15.6 %), while the other 4 (from countries other than Italy) showed a lower prevalence (4.7 %); in both subgroups, statistical heterogeneity was null (I² = 0%) and funnel plot was symmetrical.ConclusionHCV might be a significant etiologic factor of OAML in Italy.     

Hepatitis C virus seroconversion rate in established blood donors

The results of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test of 237, 813 blood donations collected from 143, 815 donors by the West Midlands Blood Transfusion Centre in 1993 were analyzed retrospectively in order to determine the seroconversion rate among established previously anti-HCV negative donors. Three hundred sixteen (0.22%; 1 in 455) donors were positive by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening test and 34 (0.024%; 1 in 4, 230) donors were positive by ELISA and the Recombinant Immuno Blot Assay (RIBA). Three donors previously negative for HCV antibody reacted positively by both tests. The annual seroconversion rate was calculated as one in 35, 937 donors. This figure argues against limitation of HCV antibody screening to new blood donors. A further 45 donors negative on previous screening reacted positively by ELISA and were indeterminate by RIBA. Unexpectedly, lapsed blood donors first tested for HCV antibody in 1993 had high positive reaction rates by ELSA and RIBA, which was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than those of new donors. RIBA-positive reaction rate among ELISA-positive donors was significantly higher amongst males than females (P < 0.0011. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

丙型肝炎患者肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素6的水平及意义

本文采用肿瘤坏死因子单克隆抗体的 ELISA 法检测了72例丙型肝炎、丙型肝炎合并乙型肝炎及乙型肝炎患者血浆肿瘤坏死因子并测定其细胞诱生白细胞介素6的生物活性.结果发现,患者肿瘤坏死因子及白细胞介素6水平增高,尤以丙型肝炎病毒感染患者为甚.并且,患者肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素6呈显著相关.这一结果表明,肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素6在丙型肝炎病毒感染的致病原理中可能有一定意义.     

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in the general female population from 8 countries

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health issue because it is widespread and persistent and can cause serious liver diseases.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to estimate HCV prevalence in women from the general population in different geographical areas worldwide and to assess the potential role of sexual behaviour in the virus transmission.Study designEach participating centre recruited a random sample of women from the general population aged from less than 20 to more than 75 years. The study included 8130 women from 8 countries with information on sociodemographic factors, reproductive and sexual behaviour, smoking habit and HPV DNA through individual interviews. A blood sample was also collected to perform serological tests. We estimated the prevalence ratios associated to HCV to evaluate the effect of sexual behaviour in viral transmission.ResultsWomen were reactive to a minimum of two HCV antigens, including at least one non structural protein were considered as positive (33% of the samples were classified as positive, 40% as negative, and 27% as indeterminate (N = 402), that were considered as not positive). The age-adjusted HCV seroprevalence varied significantly by regions (0.3% in Argentina to 21.1% in Nigeria). We found no association between HCV prevalence and age, educational level, smoking habit and any of the available variables for sexual behaviour and reproductive history.ConclusionsThis large study showed heterogeneous distribution of HCV seroprevalence in female and provides evidence of the null impact of sexual behaviour in HCV transmission.     

应用非同位素原位杂交检测肝组织中丙型肝炎病毒基因的分布

为了研究丙型肝炎患者肝组织中丙型肝炎病毒（ＨＣＶ）基因的分布，我们应用地高辛标记的ＨＣＶ基因５＇端非翻译区的探针（长度为３２个寡核苷酸），对２４例急、慢性丙型肝炎患者活检的肝组织石蜡包埋切片进行了原位核酸杂交检测。结果显示：ＨＣＶ基因阳性的肝组织标本有１１例，检出率是４５．８％（１１／２４）。ＨＣＶ基因主要分布于肝细胞浆，偶见于肝细胞核内。此外在肝血窦的ｋｕｐｆｆｅｒ细胞、小血管内皮细胞和汇管区附近均有明显的ＨＣＶ基因阳性染色，而对照组均未发现ＨＣＶ基因阳性信号。     

广元市乙型肝炎及丙型肝炎病毒感染调查及危险因素分析

目的 探讨广元市人群乙型和丙型肝炎的病毒感染情况及危险因素分析.方法 选择该地区10 837例人群作为研究对象,通过血清检测HBsAg、抗-HCV了解该地区人群的乙型和丙型肝炎患病情况,并了解乙肝和丙肝与性别、年龄、文化程度、工作性质之间的关系,同时调查诱发乙型和丙型肝炎的危险因素.结果 共血清检测10 837例:其中580例患有乙型肝炎,患病率为5.35％;35例患有丙型肝炎,患病率为0.32％.乙型肝炎患者的高危人群集中在20～ 60岁之间.乙型肝炎和丙型肝炎与文化程度、工作性质无明显的关联.拔牙、使用血制品、献血、共用剃须刀、输血、侵入性检查以及手术等是诱发乙型和丙型肝炎的危险因素.结论 乙型肝炎在青壮年中的发病率较高,丙型肝炎的发病率相对并不高,因此做好青壮年人群乙肝疫苗的接种工作十分关键,并且对于乙肝和丙肝的高危因素应该提高警惕.