1. Low plasma levels of BTLA and LAG-3 before HCV therapy are associated with metabolic disorders after HCV eradication in persons with HIV/HCV coinfection: a retrospective study.
- Author
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Martín-Escolano, Rubén, Virseda-Berdices, Ana, Berenguer, Juan, González-García, Juan, Brochado-Kith, Oscar, Fernández-Rodríguez, Amanda, Díez, Cristina, Hontañon, Victor, Resino, Salvador, Jiménez-Sousa, María Ángeles, Arranz, A., Arnalich, F., Arribas, J. R., Aznar, E., Aldamiz-Echevarría, T., Bermejo, J., Berenguer, J., Bellón, J. M., Bernardino, I., and Bustinduy, M. J.
- Subjects
IMMUNE checkpoint proteins ,TYPE 2 diabetes ,METABOLIC disorders ,MIXED infections ,DYSLIPIDEMIA - Abstract
Background: Understanding the predictors of metabolic disorders in persons with HIV/HCV coinfection post-HCV therapy is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Since immune checkpoint proteins are usually upregulated in these persons with HIV/HCV coinfection, we aimed to evaluate the association between plasma immune checkpoint proteins at baseline (before HCV therapy) and metabolic disturbances during the follow-up (about 5 years after successful HCV treatment) in persons with HIV/HCV coinfection. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 80 persons with HIV/HCV coinfection with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis who cleared HCV infection after successful HCV therapy and were followed for about 5 years after completion of HCV treatment. Plasma samples were collected at baseline. Immune checkpoint proteins were analyzed using a Luminex 200™ analyzer. Outcomes were the development of a metabolic event (type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or dyslipidemia) and the change in Triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index. Results: During follow-up, 21 (26%) patients developed metabolic events (type 2 diabetes mellitus/dyslipidemia), and 29 (46.0%) patients had an increase in TyG during the follow-up. Low baseline values of BTLA and LAG-3, two immune checkpoint proteins, were associated with the development of metabolic events (aAMR = 0.69 and aAMR = 0.71, respectively) and with increases in TyG values (aAMR = 0.72 and aAMR = 0.70, respectively). In addition, other immune checkpoint proteins were also inversely associated with increases in TyG. Conclusion: We discovered that low plasma levels of BTLA and LAG-3 before HCV therapy significantly correlate with an increased risk of developing metabolic disorders after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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