Investigators in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of The George Washington University Medical Center are carrying out a research study to determine why patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection (HIV/HCV) have a more rapid and progressive course of HCV infection, leading to fatty infiltration of the liver and cirrhosis.
Samples will be collected from 4 groups of patients with HIV/HCV infection, identified by the virologic control of either HIV, HCV, or both. Sera will be used in an in-vitro hepatocyte model of hepatitis C infection to better understand the pathogenesis of HIV/HCV co-infection, and to gain insight into intracellular mechanisms.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
20
George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Laboratory analysis of Tat Protein
The validation that HIV Tat protein is a potent inducer of HCV in dual infected patients will likely lead to anti-tat therapy to manage HCV patients for whom treatment options are rather limited.
Time frame: Single sample analysis
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