Impact of interplay between autophagy and interferon-alpha in HCV and HCV/HIV infection.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are among the most dangerous pathogens globally. Infection with HCV has been reported in a high percentage of HIV patients. Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens and their survival is associated with their capability to subvert antiviral defenses of cells and to improve cellular processes required for their replication. The aim of this study was to compare the expression rate of the key gene for autophagy process, Beclin-1, as a cellular response to viral infections, and its effect on IFN-α expression in both HCV and HCV/HIV patient groups. In this study, a total number of 40 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) including 20 HCV and 20 HCV/HIV patients before treatment were evaluated. The HCV viral load in both groups was evaluated by semi quantitative real-time PCR. The level of Beclin-1 and IFN-α gene expression was examined in all samples by semi quantitative real-time PCR assay. The median viral load was 8.3×105 copies/ml in HCV group and 2.1×106 copies/ml in HCV/HIV patients. While the expression level of Beclin-1 gene in HCV group was significantly higher, the level of IFN-α expression was lower compared to the HCV/HIV group (P Keywords: autophagy; Beclin gene; HCV; HIV; IFN gene.