Pilot Study to Assess Gut Mucosal B Cells in Individuals With HCV and HIV

HIV Infections Clinical Trial

Official title: Pilot Study to Assess Gut Mucosal B Cells in Individuals Co-Infected With HCV and HIV

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

This pilot study aims to study gut B cells in HCV+HIV+, HCV+HIV-, HCV-HIV+, and HCV-HIV- volunteers. Volunteers will undergo a screening blood draw and flexible sigmoidoscopy with biopsy.

Clinical Trial Description

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 170 million people worldwide and is the leading indication of liver transplantation in the United States. HCV is primarily a blood-borne infection, and heterosexual transmission is rare. However, acute HCV infection is increasingly being reported among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) with no risk factors for parenteral HCV transmission, suggestive of a possible mucosal route of infection in these individuals. While it is possible that HCV may be transmitted into the bloodstream via mucosal tears induced by sexual activity, is also possible that a mucosal immune defect predisposes HIV+ persons to mucosal HCV transmission. Our pilot study aims to study gut B cells in HCV+HIV+, HCV+HIV-, HCV-HIV+, and HCV-HIV- volunteers. Volunteers will undergo a screening blood draw and flexible sigmoidoscopy with biopsy. We will isolate peripheral and mucosal mononuclear cells and we will perform HCV-specific ELISPOT and single B cell immunoglobulin (Ig) RT-PCR to assess volunteers' gut B cell repertoire. If successful, we would like to expand the study so as to better assess Ig repertoire differences among HCV+HIV+ and HCV+HIV- individuals. ;

Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hepatitis C
• Hepatitis C Virus
• HIV Infections

• NCT number: NCT01040039
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Rockefeller University
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 2009
• Completion date: September 2011