HIV Stimulation Induces a Unique Innate Immune Response in Kupffer Cells

BACKGROUND: Patients with HIV that are coinfected with HCV are at increased risk for rapidly progressive liver disease and subsequently the development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Specifically, HCC develops earlier in coinfected patients and these patients are more symptomatic than those with only HCV infection at diagnosis suggesting that both viruses increase the propensity for malignant transformation. Consequently, HCV coinfection and the associated liver disease is a major health burden for HIV infected persons in the U.S. However, the genetic and cellular based mechanisms underpinning how HCV initiates and subsequently induces liver pathology and why coinfection with HIV results in significantly worse hepatic disease remains to be clarified. In addition, the specific cell types that contribute to these clinical outcomes are unknown. METHODS: The goal of this project is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatic sequela in coinfected patients specifically focusing on the innate inflammatory responses activated by HIV in liver cells. To this end, we have developed novel in-vitro models that utilize HIV stimulated primary kupffer cells (PKCs). RESULTS: HIV stimulation of primary kupffer cells resulted in rapid and robust upregulation of an inflammatory gene signature.

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