State of CD4+ T-lymphocytes mitochondria in HIV/HCV coinfected patients with different efficiency of immune system restoration during antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

Objective: to assess mitochondrial parameters in CD4+ T-cells of HIV/HCV coinfected patients with a discordant and standard response of the immune system to antiretroviral therapy.Materials and methods. HIV/HCV coinfected patients with discordant (n=21) and standard (n=20) response to treatment were examined. The control group comprised of 23 uninfected volunteers. In CD4+ T-cells, PGC-1a content, mitochondrial mass, and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined with flow cytometry.Results. In CD4+ T-cells of HIV/HCV coinfected subjects with standard and discordant response to treatment, mitochondrial membrane potential was similar to that of uninfected donors. Compared with healthy controls, HIV/HCV coinfected patients had increased organelles’ mass and PGC-1a expression in CD4+ T-cells. In contrast to healthy individuals, HIV/HCV coinfected subjects had no correlation between mitochondrial mass and PGC-1a content in CD4+ T-lymphocytes.Conclusion. In CD4+ T-cells of HIV/HCV coinfected patients with discordant and standard response to antiretroviral therapy, up-regulation of mitochondrial mass is not associated with energy production. In HIV/HCV coinfection, there is no relationship between the mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial biogenesis regulator.