基因突变：艾滋风险降，丙肝风险增
路透社芝加哥健康消息 在芝加哥召开的第八届逆转录酶病毒和机会感染大会上，有研究指出已发现一种基因突变可以对抗艾滋病病毒，但是会使人容易感染丙肝。
丙肝是一种威胁生命的肝病毒感染，可以引起肝硬化、肝衰竭和肝癌。目前全世界有一亿七千万人患该病，该病在HIV感染者和静脉吸毒者中最常见。这种基因突变可以影响免疫细胞CCR5上面的受体，艾滋病病毒就是利用它和CD4上的受体做为通道进入细胞内部进行大肆浩劫的。
体内有两套CCR5突变复制基因(从父母身上各遗传一套)的人比没有这种基因的人更不容易感染艾滋病病毒。而仅有一套复制基因的人会感染艾滋病病毒，但是发展成艾滋病的时间会相对较长。约有1%的白种人体内有两套这种基因。现的研究发现，这种突变基因对避免艾滋病病毒感染很有帮助，但是却使人体变得对丙肝病毒易感。
德国波恩大学的研究员对130位丙肝病毒感染者、102位艾滋病病毒感染者以及130位同时感染了这两种病毒的患者进行了调查。结果发现，平均来讲，约30%的艾滋病病毒感染者同时还感染了丙肝。感染丙肝病毒的人中带有CCR5基因的人比非感染者中携带这种基因的人多很多。丙肝感染者中CCR5的数量估计是普通人群的3-7倍。
, http://www.100md.com
血液中的丙肝病毒水平，可以做为更严重感染的指标。有两套CCR5突变基因的人的体内这种病毒水平比没有这种基因的人要高出许多。为什么CCR5会加大感染丙肝的风险，原因目前尚不清楚。可以想象，是基因突变改变了细胞的免疫反应。
亚伦·戴蒙德艾滋病研究中心华裔研究员何大一博士评论说，波恩研究人员的发现提示了这种突变会导致丙肝感染更严重的后果，这无疑是一个新的发现，它对控制丙肝病毒的机制带来了一线曙光，因为这种病毒在艾滋病患者身上很常见。
Mutation Protects Against HIV, Ups Hepatitis C Risk
CHICAGO (Reuters Health) - A genetic mutation known to protect against HIV (news - web sites) appears to make people more susceptible to hepatitis C, according to a study presented here on Tuesday at the 8th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections here.
, 百拇医药
Hepatitis C is a life-threatening viral infection of the liver that can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. It affects about 170 million people worldwide and is common among HIV-infected patients and intravenous drug users.
The mutation affects a receptor found on immune system cells known as CCR5. HIV uses this receptor, along with the CD4 receptor, as a sort of ``door‘‘ to gain access and wreak havoc in the cell‘s interior.
, 百拇医药
People with two mutated copies of the CCR5 gene--one from each parent--are much less likely to become infected with HIV than those who have no mutations. People who have one mutated copy of the gene can become HIV infected, but progress to AIDS (news - web sites) much more slowly than other patients. About 1% of whites have two mutated copies of CCR5.
Now a new study suggests that those gene mutations--so helpful in avoiding deadly HIV--actually may make carriers more vulnerable to hepatitis C.
, 百拇医药
In a new study, Dr. Rainer P. Woitas and colleagues at the University of Bonn in Germany looked at 130 hepatitis C-infected patients, 102 HIV-infected patients and 130 patients infected with both viruses.
``On average, about 30% of HIV-infected patients also have HCV infection,‘‘ he told conference attendees.
Woitas saw a ``striking increase‘‘ in CCR5 mutations in patients infected with hepatitis C, compared with uninfected patients. The number of CCR5 mutations in the hepatitis C-infected patients was 3 to 7 times higher than would be expected in the general population.
, http://www.100md.com
Hepatitis C levels in the blood--which can indicate more serious or advanced infections--were much higher in those who had two CCR5 mutations compared with those who did not.
The reason why CCR5 mutations may increase the risk of hepatitis C infection is unknown. However, Woitas suggests that ‘‘it is conceivable that cell-related immune response is altered by this mutation.‘‘
The findings of the Bonn researchers ``suggest that this mutation is associated with a worse outcome for hepatitis C infection,‘‘ Dr. David D. Ho of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center commented. ``This certainly is a novel observation and will shed some light on the mechanism of control for hepatitis C virus, which is a frequent co-infection in AIDS patients.‘‘, http://www.100md.com
丙肝是一种威胁生命的肝病毒感染，可以引起肝硬化、肝衰竭和肝癌。目前全世界有一亿七千万人患该病，该病在HIV感染者和静脉吸毒者中最常见。这种基因突变可以影响免疫细胞CCR5上面的受体，艾滋病病毒就是利用它和CD4上的受体做为通道进入细胞内部进行大肆浩劫的。
体内有两套CCR5突变复制基因(从父母身上各遗传一套)的人比没有这种基因的人更不容易感染艾滋病病毒。而仅有一套复制基因的人会感染艾滋病病毒，但是发展成艾滋病的时间会相对较长。约有1%的白种人体内有两套这种基因。现的研究发现，这种突变基因对避免艾滋病病毒感染很有帮助，但是却使人体变得对丙肝病毒易感。
德国波恩大学的研究员对130位丙肝病毒感染者、102位艾滋病病毒感染者以及130位同时感染了这两种病毒的患者进行了调查。结果发现，平均来讲，约30%的艾滋病病毒感染者同时还感染了丙肝。感染丙肝病毒的人中带有CCR5基因的人比非感染者中携带这种基因的人多很多。丙肝感染者中CCR5的数量估计是普通人群的3-7倍。
, http://www.100md.com
血液中的丙肝病毒水平，可以做为更严重感染的指标。有两套CCR5突变基因的人的体内这种病毒水平比没有这种基因的人要高出许多。为什么CCR5会加大感染丙肝的风险，原因目前尚不清楚。可以想象，是基因突变改变了细胞的免疫反应。
亚伦·戴蒙德艾滋病研究中心华裔研究员何大一博士评论说，波恩研究人员的发现提示了这种突变会导致丙肝感染更严重的后果，这无疑是一个新的发现，它对控制丙肝病毒的机制带来了一线曙光，因为这种病毒在艾滋病患者身上很常见。
Mutation Protects Against HIV, Ups Hepatitis C Risk
CHICAGO (Reuters Health) - A genetic mutation known to protect against HIV (news - web sites) appears to make people more susceptible to hepatitis C, according to a study presented here on Tuesday at the 8th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections here.
, 百拇医药
Hepatitis C is a life-threatening viral infection of the liver that can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. It affects about 170 million people worldwide and is common among HIV-infected patients and intravenous drug users.
The mutation affects a receptor found on immune system cells known as CCR5. HIV uses this receptor, along with the CD4 receptor, as a sort of ``door‘‘ to gain access and wreak havoc in the cell‘s interior.
, 百拇医药
People with two mutated copies of the CCR5 gene--one from each parent--are much less likely to become infected with HIV than those who have no mutations. People who have one mutated copy of the gene can become HIV infected, but progress to AIDS (news - web sites) much more slowly than other patients. About 1% of whites have two mutated copies of CCR5.
Now a new study suggests that those gene mutations--so helpful in avoiding deadly HIV--actually may make carriers more vulnerable to hepatitis C.
, 百拇医药
In a new study, Dr. Rainer P. Woitas and colleagues at the University of Bonn in Germany looked at 130 hepatitis C-infected patients, 102 HIV-infected patients and 130 patients infected with both viruses.
``On average, about 30% of HIV-infected patients also have HCV infection,‘‘ he told conference attendees.
Woitas saw a ``striking increase‘‘ in CCR5 mutations in patients infected with hepatitis C, compared with uninfected patients. The number of CCR5 mutations in the hepatitis C-infected patients was 3 to 7 times higher than would be expected in the general population.
, http://www.100md.com
Hepatitis C levels in the blood--which can indicate more serious or advanced infections--were much higher in those who had two CCR5 mutations compared with those who did not.
The reason why CCR5 mutations may increase the risk of hepatitis C infection is unknown. However, Woitas suggests that ‘‘it is conceivable that cell-related immune response is altered by this mutation.‘‘
The findings of the Bonn researchers ``suggest that this mutation is associated with a worse outcome for hepatitis C infection,‘‘ Dr. David D. Ho of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center commented. ``This certainly is a novel observation and will shed some light on the mechanism of control for hepatitis C virus, which is a frequent co-infection in AIDS patients.‘‘, http://www.100md.com