The importance of sCD40 and sCD40L concentration in patients with chronic HCV infection and HIV co-infection.

CD40 receptor is activated by ligand CD40L (CD154) which is synthesized in inflammation by NK cells, monocytes and lymphocytes B. TRAF proteins are activated in cells by CD40 stimulation and next they stimulate different enzymatic pathways. High concentrations of CD40L stimulate CD40, and consequently STAT enzyme system inhibits the expression ofnonstructural proteins ofHCV NS3 and NS5A and E2 core in infected human hepatocytes. PURPOSE. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentration of soluble components of the complex: sCD40 and sCD40L in the serum of patients infected with HCV and HCV/HIV-1 co-infected. The effect ofHCV genotype, HIV and HCV viral load and rs12979860 polymorphism on serum sCD40 and sCD40L was established among the patients. The influence of the number of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ on the concentrations of sCD40 and sCD40L was evaluated in the HIV-1 infected group MATERIALS AND METHODS. Serum concentrations of sCD40 and sCD40L were determined using ELISA in 68 HCV infected patients including 39 HCV monoinfected and 29 HCV/HIV-1 co-infected. RESULTS. Serum concentration of sCD40 and sCD40L was significantly higher in HCV and HCV/HIV coinfected patients compared to healthy subjects (25.7 and 23.2 v. 8.5 pg/ml and 12.7 and 7.3 v. 0.79 ng/ml). The concentration of sCD40L in patients with genotype CC rs12979860 was significantly higher compared to patients with Non-CC genotypes (11.8 v. 7.6 ng/ml, p < 0.018). CONCLUSIONS. High levels of sCD40 and sCD40L were detected among patients with chronic HCV and HCV/ HIV-1 infection The high concentration of sCD40L correlates with CC rs12979860 genotype.