The Study of Gut Associated Lymphocytes in HIV and HCV/HIV Co-infected Patients

Exploring the Role of Gut-associated TH17 in Microbial Translocation in HIV and HCV/HIV Co-infected Patients

The purpose of this research study is to explore what role immune cells within the gut (the sigmoid colon) have locally and on the immune system of patients infected with HCV, HIV or HCV/ HIV co-infection.

Objective 1: Characterization of the Gut Associated Lymphocytes (GALT) in HIV, HCV and coinfected patients regarding the role of Th17 and cytokine profiles.

Hypothesis 1a: HIV and HCV/HIV coinfection is associated with changes in Th17 numbers and functions in GALT.

Hypothesis 1b: HIV and HCV/HIV coinfection is associated with changes in cytokine profiles in intestinal mucosa.

Objective 2: Identify the relationship between changes in Gut Associated Lymphocytes (GALT) in HIV, HCV and coinfected patients and markers of microbial translocation.

Hypothesis 2a: Changes in GALT are associated with increase in microbial translocation in HIV, HCV and coinfected patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• are at least age 18, but not older than 70 years old
• have HIV, HCV or both
• do not have HIV, HCV or both, and are having a screening colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy for abdominal pain or colon cancer screening (control subject)

Exclusion Criteria:

• have a history of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) or suspected IBD
• have a history of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis
• are taking systemic immunomodulators
• are pregnant