Objective To study the impact of HIV and hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) infection on peripheral expression of antiviral protein A3G and plasma IFN-αlevels.Methods Untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C(HCV infection group, n=43), AIDS(HIV infection group, CD4 +T<200 cells/μL, n=45) and HIV/HCV co-infection (CD4 +T<200 cells/μL, n=45) were recruited in the study, and 23 healthy subjects were also enrolled as controls.A3G mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was measured by quantificational real-time PCR, and plasma IFN-αlevel was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Rank-sum test and Spearman rank correlation analysis were performed. Results A3G mRNA levels in HIV infected group, HIV/HCV co-infected group, HCV infected group and healthy control group were 4.89 (0.59), 4.85 (0.71), 3.89 (1.08) and 3.69 (0.81) lg copies/mL, respectively.A3G mRNA levels in HIV infected group and HIV/HCV co-infected group were much higher than those in healthy control group (Z=-6.306 and -6.280, P<0.01) and HCV infected group (Z=-7.358 and -7.275, P<0.01).Plasma IFN-αlevels in HIV infected group, HIV/HCV co-infected group, HCV infected group and healthy control group were 2.79 (1.25), 2.05 (1.29), 2.32 (1.84) and 2.16 (2.19) pg/mL, respectively.Plasma level of IFN-αin HIV infected group was higher than that in the HIV/HCV co-infected group (Z=-2.332, P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed among other groups (all P>0.05).There was no significant correlation between plasma IFN-αlevel and A3G mRNA expression (rs =0.04, P>0.05), and the levels of A3G mRNA and IFN-αshowed no correlation with HIV RNA and HCV RNA (all P>0.05).Conclusions A3G is highly expressed in PBMCs from HIV infected patients, and it may not be affected by the infection of HCV.A3G mRNA is not closely correlated with IFN-α, and it has not significant influence on HIV RNA and HCV RNA replication.

Objective To explore the pathogen spectrum, drug resistance rate and clinical characteristics of pneumonia caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in acquined immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.Methods The clinical data of 31 hospitalized AIDS patients with bronchoalceolar lavage flind (BALF) culture confirmed NTM pulmonary disease in Guangzhou No.8 People′s Hospital from January,2008 to February,2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including pathogen spectrum, drug resistance rate and clinical characteristics.The clinical characteristics and drug resistance were compared between Mycobacterium avmm-intracellulare complex (MAC) pneumonia and the non-MAC pneumonia, and t test and chi-square test were used.Results Of the 31 AIDS patients,28 were male and 3 were female, with the mean age of 40.9 years old.The 31 NTM strains were consisted of 14 MAC strains and 17 non-MAC strains (including 4 M.kansasii strains,3 M.lentiflavumstrains, 2 M.szulgai strains, 2 M.yongonense strains etc).There was no significant difference between two groups in sex ratio, mean age, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and treatment outcome (all P>0.05).The major clinical manifestations included fever, productive cough, weight loss, anemia and low CD4+ count (<50/μL).Most patients showed thoracic lymphadenectasis and patchy shadows in lungs, and few patients had millet shadows and pericardial effusion.Compared with non-MAC strains, MAC strains had higher drug resistant rate of moxifloxacin (10/14 vs 4/17), levofloxacin (14/14 vs 8/17), and clarithromycin (11/14 vs 7/17).More extensively drug resistance strains were seen in non-MAC strains compared with MAC strains (11/14 vs 7/17).Conclusions MAC is the most common pathogen of NTM pulmonary disease in AIDS patients.The clinical features of pneumonia caused by MAC and non-MAC are similar, but drug resistance of MAC strains are more severe.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients complicated with peripulmonary occupational lesions.Methods:Fifty-five AIDS patients with peripulmonary occupational lesions treated in Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital from January 2012 to January 2019 were included, and the clinical data of patients were retrospectively analyzed. According to the results of lung biopsy, the patients were divided into Mycobacterium infection group, fungal infection group and tumor group. The clinical characteristics, the proportion of different CD4 + T lymphocyte counts and chest computed tomography (CT) features of the three groups were compared. Chi square test was used for comparison among the three groups, and Bonferroni method was used to correct the test level for pairwise comparison. The significance level was 0.016 7 because of three pairwise comparisons. Results:Among 55 AIDS patients complicated with peripulmonary occupational lesions, pulmonary biopsy showed 14 cases with Mycobacterium infection, 12 cases with fungal infection and 15 cases with tumor lesions. Mixed diseases were found in 11 patients, including seven cases with Mycobacterium and fungus coinfection, four with tumor complicated with fungus and (or) Mycobacterium. Three with chronic interstitial pneumonia. The main clinical manifestations of 55 patients were fever, expectoration, fatigue, weight loss and superficial lymph node enlargement. There were no significant differences in symptoms/signs, white blood cell counts, hemoglobin levels, alanine transaminase and creatinine among Mycobacterium infection group, fungal infection group and tumor group (all P>0.05). There was significant difference in anti-retroviral therapy (ART) acceptance among the three groups ( χ2=15.165, P<0.01). However, the results of pairwise comparison between groups showed that there was significant difference between fungal infection group and tumor group ( χ2=7.514, P<0.016 7), while there was no significant difference between Mycobacterium infection group and tumor group, Mycobacterium infection group and fungal infection group ( χ2=0.255 and 5.306, respectively, both P>0.016 7). There were significant differences in clinical outcomes among the three groups ( χ2=15.119, P<0.01), and the pairwise comparison between the Mycobacterium infection group and the tumor group, and the fungal infection group and the tumor group showed significant differences ( χ2 =10.311 and 9.095, respectively, both P<0.016 7). The cases with CD4 + T lymphocyte count ≤50/μL, 51-<200/μL and ≥200/μL in Mycobacterium infection group were three cases, one case and 10 cases, respectively; those in fungal infection group were 10 cases, two cases and 0 case, respectively, and those in tumor group were one case, two cases and 12 cases, respectively. The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=21.284, P<0.01). Chest CT showed that there was significant difference in the types of space occupying lesions among the three groups ( χ2=13.308, P=0.003), and pairwise comparison between the two groups showed that there was significant difference between the Mycobacterium infection group and the tumor group ( χ2=11.312, P<0.016 7), while there were no significant differences between the Mycobacterium infection group and fungal infection group ( χ2=0.931, P>0.016 7), and the fungal infection group and the tumor group ( χ2=7.053, P>0.016 7). There was significant difference among the three groups in calcification focus ( χ2=8.524, P=0.004), while there was no difference between the Mycobacterium infection group and fungal infection+ tumor group ( χ2=10.982, P<0.016 7). Conclusions:Mycobacterium infection, fungal infection and tumor are the main types of peripulmonary occupational lesions in AIDS patients. The differential diagnosis could be made by combining with chest CT features, ART acceptance and CD4 + T lymphocyte level.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of mycobacteria species distribution in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients co-infected with mycobacteria in Guangzhou. Methods A total of 133 mycobacteria strains isolated from HIV-positive patients and 150 strains isolated from HIV-negative patients were included in this study. After DNA extraction of mycobacteria, mycobacteria species identification was performed by sequencing of multiple genes.Differences in the identified species were compared between patients with and without HIV infection and the correlation between CD4 + T cells level and the mycobacterial species distribution was analyzed.Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results Of the 133 mycobacteria strains isolated from HIV-positive patients, 82 were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC ). Fifty-one were identified as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM),of which the main species was Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC,31/51).Of the 150 mycobacteria strains isolated from HIV-negative patients,126 were identified as MTC and 24 as NTM,of which the main species was Mycobacterium abscessus (9/24).In patients with CD4 + T cell counts ≤100/μL,the positive rate of mycobacteria was 75 .94%(101/133),93.55 %(29/31) of MAC and 85 .00%(17/20)of other NTM.When the CD4 + T cell counts >100/μL,the positive rate for mycobacteria were all obviously decreased.Conclusions The proportion of NTM infection is higher in HIV-positive patients than HIV-negative patients in Guangzhou. Among HIV-positive patients > the most prevalent NTM species is MAC, while Mycobacterium abscessus is the most common species in HIVnegative patients. Mycobacterial infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients is closely associated with low CD4+ cells level.

Objective To analyze the effects of valproic acid(VPA),a histone deacetylase(HDAC)inhibitor,on macrophage polarization in?duced by paraquat(PQ)or lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Methods Mouse RAW264.7 cells were cultured at 37℃with 5%CO2,passaged,and then given one of the following treatments:(1)PQ;(2)PQ+VPA(classⅠandⅡa HDAC inhibitor);(3)PQ+apicidin(classⅠHDAC inhibitor);(4)PQ+MC1568(classⅡa HDAC inhibitor);(5)LPS;(6)LPS+VPA;(7)LPS+apicidin;(8)LPS+MC1568. The cells and culture supernatants were harvested after 8 h of treatment. RT?PCR,ELISA,and flow cytometry were conducted to assess the expression levels of macrophage phenotyp?ic markers. Results Both PQ and LPS skewed the macrophage functional polarity toward proinflammatory phenotype. VPA,apicidin,and MC1568 all inhibited PQ?and LPS?induced macrophages polarizing toward pro?inflammatory phenotype ,but the inhibitory effects were different in some ways. Conclusion VPA inhibits the proinflammatory function of macrophages induced by PQ and LPS ,but the effect of VPA on PQ?and LPS?induced macrophages has its own characteristics.

Objective:To analyze the dynamic changes of total HIV-1 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) following highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-1/HCV co-infected patients.Methods:Thirty patients with HIV-1/HCV co-infection without anti-HCV treatment (co-infected group) and 42 HIV-1 infected patients with initial treatment (mono-infected group) admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital from May 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The virological and immunological responses of the two groups at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 weeks after HAART, the changes of total HIV-1 DNA in PBMC and its relationship with peripheral blood HIV-1 RNA and T lymphocyte subsets were observed. SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used to analyze the data.Results:The plasma HIV-1 virus inhibition rate, CD4 + T cells and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio increased and the total HIV-1 DNA in PBMC decreased in both groups after HAART. The inhibition rate of HIV RNA at week 72 in co-infected group was significantly lower than that in the mono-infected group ( χ2=7.93, P<0.01). Compared with the mono-infected group, the CD4 + T cells at week 12, 24, 72 and 96 after HAART were lower in the co-infected group ( U=313.50, 329.00, 286.00 and 204.50, P<0.05 or <0.01). The CD4 + /CD8 + ratio at week 48 in the co-infected group was lower than that in the mono-infected group ( U=294.50, P<0.05). The total HIV-1 DNA of the co-infected group at baseline and week 12 was lower than that of the mono-infected group ( U=362.00 and 359.00, P<0.01 or <0.05). There was no significant correlation between total HIV-1 DNA in PBMC and HIV-1 RNA or CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in both groups ( P>0.05). There was no correlation between total HIV-1 DNA and CD4 + T cells in HIV-1/HCV co-infected group ( b=-0.001, P>0.05), but it had negative correlation in the mono-infected group ( b=-0.001, P<0.05). Conclusion:Total HIV-1 DNA in PBMC was significantly decreased after HAART in HIV-1/HCV co-infected patients. Co-infected with HCV may delay the decrease of total HIV-1 DNA after HAART in patients with HIV-1 infection.

Objective: To analyze the characteristic mutations of epitopes in HBV Pre-S/S region in HIV/HBV co-infected patients’ peripheral blood to provide basic data for studying the pathogenesis of HIV/HBV co-infection. Methods: The chronic hepatitis B infected patients admitted to the Infectious Disease Center of the Eighth People′s Hospital of Guangzhou from January 2009 to December 2011 were enrolled into HIV/HBV co-infected group and HBV mono-infected group according to the result of HIV antibody detection respectively before treatment. HBV DNA in serum was extracted and Pre-S/S region of HBV DNA was amplified by nested-PCR. After sequencing of the obtained PCR products (direct sequencing), ContigExpress software was used for sequence splicing and BioEdit software was used for sequence alignment. With reference to the standard sequence of the matched genotype HBV, mutants of HBV Pre-S/S region in HIV/HBV co-infected group and HBV mono-infected group were analyzed respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by chi-square test with SPSS19.0 statistical analysis software. Results: HBV Pre-S/S fragments were successfully amplified from 150 patients, including 90 cases of HIV/HBV co-infected group and 60 cases of HBV mono-infected group, with matched gender, age, genotype, HBeAg status, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The result of analyzing mutants of HBV Pre-S/S region indicated that the incidence of mutation in all epitopes for cytotoxic T cells (CTL cells) was higher in the HIV/HBV co-infected group, and Pre-S2 aa1-15 epitope was significantly higher (χ²=6.964, P=0.008). The incidence of deletions in PreS2 aa1-15 epitope in HIV/HBV co-infected group (11.1%) was higher than HBV mono-infected group (3.3%) (χ²=2.959, P=0.085). In the B cell epitopes, the incidence of mutations in Pre-S2 aa1-26 in the HIV/HBV co-infected group was significantly higher than HBV mono-infected group (χ²=6.924, P=0.010), and there was no statistical significance between two groups in other B cell epitopes. No differences in helper T cell (Th cell) epitopes were found between the two groups. Conclusions Co-infection with HIV increased the CTL cell epitopes’ mutations in the HBV Pre-S/S region, especially the 5′ end epitope mutations in Pre-S2 region, which indicated that HBV mutation is related to the host immune status, and showed guiding information for further study on the pathogenesis of HIV/HBV co-infection