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GB virus C: the good boy virus?
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

GB virus C: the good boy virus?

Nirjal Bhattarai and Jack T Stapleton
Trends in microbiology (Regular ed.), Vol.20(3), pp.124-130
03/2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2012.01.004
PMCID: PMC3477489
PMID: 22325031
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2012.01.004View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

GB virus C (GBV-C) is a lymphotropic human virus discovered in 1995 that is related to hepatitis C virus (HCV). GBV-C infection has not been convincingly associated with any disease; however, several studies found an association between persistent GBV-C infection and improved survival in HIV-positive individuals. GBV-C infection modestly alters T cell homeostasis in vivo through various mechanisms, including modulation of chemokine and cytokine release and receptor expression, and by diminution of T cell activation, proliferation and apoptosis, all of which may contribute to improved HIV clinical outcomes. In vitro studies confirm these clinical observations and demonstrate an anti-HIV replication effect of GBV-C. This review summarizes existing data on potential mechanisms by which GBV-C interferes with HIV, and the research needed to capitalize on this epidemiological observation.
IL-2 HIV activation GBV-C T cell

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