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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

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

Conditions
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HIV, Hepatitis C, Chronic, HCV Coinfection

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| 10 HIV mono-infected subjects<br>10 subjects infected with HIV only | |
| 10 HCV mono-infected subjects<br>10 subjects infected with HCV only | |
| 10 HIV/HCV co-infected subjects<br>10 subjects infected with both HIV and HCV | |
| 10 control subjects<br>10 subjects without HIV, HCV, or both | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Exploring the Role of Gut-associated Th17 in Microbial Translocation in HIV and HCV/HIV Coinfected Patients. | We measure gene transcription of the colon tissues (relative expression fold changes of gene transcription compared to control). No preselected criteria were used to assess the participants. Data were analyzed and compared among each group. Relative expression levels of LEAP-2 (Liver expressed anti-microbial peptide-2) in the four groups were shown in the table below. Detailed of other genes had been published in Shata MT, et al, J. Clin Pathology 2013, Nov 66(11):967-75. PMID 23940131, and Abdel-Hameed et al, J. Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 Jul 10 PMID: 23846566 | One year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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HIV/HCV, HIV, HCV, Hepatitis C, HIV and Hepatitis C coinfection