Innate Immunity in HIV Positive Patients Co-infected With Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) or Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Innate Immunity in HIV Positive Patients Co-infected With Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) or Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Data from this study will provide the first information how the innate immune system may be
 altered in HIV-HCV and HIV-HBV co-infected individuals, and describe Toll-like receptor
 changes with HIV co-infection therapy.
It has been demonstrated that Toll-like receptors (TLR) are involved in viral hepatitis -
 hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) - and HIV in the setting of mono-infection. However the
 role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of HIV-hepatitis co-infection in both natural and
 therapy-associated viral clearance remains unclear. The data from this study may reveal
 patterns which could predict how and when patients spontaneously, and with therapy, resolve
 HBV or HCV in the setting of co-infection.

 The aim of the study is to evaluate the activity of innate immunity in different subsets of
 HIV-infected populations co-infected with chronic hepatitis B and/or C. Our hypothesis is
 that innate immunity is altered in HIV and hepatitis co-infection and that this differs from
 both hepatitis and HIV mono-infection.

 The study is a cross-sectional and longitudinal pilot study of individuals infected with HIV
 and either HBV or HCV.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  HIV and either HBV or HCV co-infection

 -  18 years and older

 -  able to give informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  HIV-HBV-HCV triple infection