HIV-1 infection impairs frequency and functionality of HBV-specific CD4 T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Globally about 10% of HIV-1-positive patients are chronically coinfected with HBV leading to an increased morbidity and mortality compared to patients with HBV monoinfection. We analyzed frequency and functionality of HBV- and HIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells in patients with HIV/HBV coinfection (n = 11) compared to HBV (n = 15) and HIV (n = 8) monoinfected patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and analyzed for T-cell activation (CD40L), cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) and chemokine (MIP1-β) secretion ex vivo after overnight resting by flow cytometry-based assays. In patients with HIV/HBV coin…