The Progression of Hepatitis C Among IDUs

描述（由申请方提供）：R01DA 016078的主要关注点是HIV感染者中丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）相关肝病的进展。在美国，HCV相关肝病是HIV感染者死亡的主要原因之一，主要发生在注射非法药物（IDUs）的人中。然而，HIV感染在多大程度上增加了注射吸毒者中HCV肝病的风险还没有得到表征，HIV如何影响肝病的机制在很大程度上是未知的。注射吸毒者肝病研究的主要局限是疾病阶段的测量。最近，这一挑战已被克服。我们已经在静脉吸毒者中证明，通过弹性成像评估肝脏硬度可以准确和安全地测量肝脏疾病。在我们的第一个目标中，我们使用这种方法来检验HIV相关的CD4 +淋巴细胞耗竭加速HCV感染的注射吸毒者的肝脏疾病进展的假设，并描述这种影响的程度。最终，HCV相关的肝脏疾病导致死亡时，有肝衰竭，或终末期肝病。在我们的第二个目标中，我们询问肝硬度的测量是否影响静脉吸毒者发生肝衰竭的风险，并描述这种风险。虽然持续的HCV复制是HCV相关肝病进展所必需的，但尚不清楚进展的风险是否受复制程度的影响（如其他慢性病毒感染所示）。HIV感染会增加HCV RNA的血清水平，但尚不清楚为什么会发生这种情况，以及它是否与更大的疾病进展有关。我们的第三个目的是检验HCV增殖增加肝脏疾病进展风险的假设，并检查HIV感染或CD4+淋巴细胞耗竭是否改变了这种风险。通过使用我们的血清和肝组织库，我们将能够通过研究血清中的HCV RNA复制和激光捕获显微镜解剖的特定肝细胞来验证这一假设。本研究计划成功的可能性很高，因为经验丰富，有凝聚力的团队将继续使用现有技术和良好表征的人体组织来了解HIV感染者中HCV相关肝病的进展

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary focus of R01DA016078 is the progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease in HIV-infected persons. In the United States, HCV-related liver disease is one of the leading causes of death among HIV infected persons and occurs chiefly among persons who have injected illicit drugs (IDUs). However, the degree to which HIV infection increases HCV liver disease risk among IDUs has not been characterized and the mechanisms of how HIV affects liver disease are largely unknown. The major limitation of liver disease research among IDUs is measurement of disease stage. Recently, this challenge has been overcome. We have shown in IDUs that liver disease can be accurately and safely measured by assessment of liver stiffness by elastography. In our first aim, we use this method to test the hypothesis that HIV-related CD4 + lymphocyte depletion accelerates progression of liver disease among HCV-infected IDUs and to characterize the magnitude of that effect. Ultimately, HCV-related liver disease causes mortality when there is liver failure, or end stage liver disease. In our second aim, we ask whether measurements of liver stiffness affect the risk of developing liver failure among IDUs and characterize this risk. Although ongoing HCV replication is necessary for HCV-related liver disease progression, it is not clear whether the risk of progression is affected by the degree of replication (as has been shown with other chronic viral infections). HIV infection increases the serum level of HCV RNA, but it is unclear why this occurs and whether it is associated with greater disease progression. Our third aim is to test the hypothesis that greater HCV proliferation increases the risk of liver disease progression and to examine whether the risk is altered by HIV-infection or CD4+ lymphocyte depletion. By using our repository of serum and liver tissue, we will be able to test this hypothesis by investigating HCV RNA replication in serum and in specific liver cells dissected by laser capture microscopy. A high likelihood of success is anticipated in this research program as an experienced, cohesive team will continue to use available technology and well characterized human tissues to understand HCV related liver disease progression in HIV infected persons