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Objective:To analyze the prevalence and genotypes of human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) among HIV-1-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zhuhai, aiming to elucidate the impact of HPgV-1 on the progression of AIDS.Methods:This study collected 934 serum specimens positive for antibodies against HIV-1 for viral RNA extraction from MSM in Zhuhai from 2012 to 2020. HPgV-1 5′UTR was amplified by nested PCR and then E gene was amplified by nested PCR and sequenced in the 5′UTR-positive specimens. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze genotype distribution. The influence of HPgV-1 infection on the progression of AIDS was evaluated through analyzing HIV-1 viral load and CD4 + cell counts in patients in the early stage of AIDS before antiviral treatment. Results:The positive rate of HPgV-1 in MSM with HIV-1 infection in Zhuhai was 31.05%. A total of 273 valid sequences were obtained after amplification. The main genotype of HPgV-1 was G3 (252, 92.31%), which was highly homologous to the epidemic strains in China and Japan in recent years, followed G2 (21, 7.69%), which was highly homologous to the epidemic strains in France and America. HPgV-1 strains of G1, G4, G5, G6 and G7 genotypes were not detected. There was no significant difference in HIV-1 virus load or CD4 + cell counts between patients with HIV-1 infection alone and those with HIV-1 and HPgV-1 (G3 or G2 genotype) co-infection. Conclusions:According to the data of this study, HPgV-1 infection could not delay the progression of AIDS in MSM in the early stage of AIDS before antiviral therapy. The widespread HPgV-1 of G3 genotype in China did not have a significant impact on the progression of AIDS. Therefore, a systematic in-depth research on various genotypes of HPgV-1 and further study on the pathogenic mechanism of HPgV-1, especially in patients with HPgV-1 and HIV co-infection, were needed to understanding the interaction mechanism between different genotypes of HPgV-1 and HIV-1.
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Resumen El pegivirus humano (HPgV) es un virus ARN que fue identificado en el año 1995. Actualmente se encuentra clasificado dentro de la familia Flaviviridae, género Pegivirus, relacionado filogenéticamente con el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC). El HPgV es un virus linfotrópico, con replicación en médula ósea, tejidos linfoides, y en células mononucleares de sangre periférica. Este virus se transmite por vía parenteral y sexual. Según estimaciones realizadas, en el mundo existen alrededor de 750 millones de personas infectadas por este agente. Se ha evidenciado que hasta en 25% de los casos se presenta una infección persistente, y aunque se considera que el HPgV es un virus no patogénico, existen evidencias epidemiológicas que sugieren una relación con el desarrollo de desórdenes linfoproliferativos, particularmente linfoma no Hodgkin (LNH). Algunos estudios han reportado una alta prevalencia de HPgV en pacientes con LNH comparado con donantes de sangre y/o pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas no malignas, lo que se asocia a un incremento en el riesgo relativo para el desarrollo de LNH en personas infectadas. De otra parte, existen estudios epidemiológicos que contradicen esta asociación, por lo que el rol de HPgV en la aparición de desórdenes lifoproliferativos es un tema actual de debate. En el presente manuscrito se discute el potencial patogénico derivado de los mecanismos de infección persistente del HPgV, así como las principales evidencias sobre la relación entre el HPgV y el riesgo de desarrollo de LNH.
The human pegivirus (HPgV), classified in the Flaviviridae family - Pegivirus genus, is an RNA virus identified in 1995. HPgV is a lymphotrophic virus, with replication sites in bone marrow and lymphoid tissue, as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Transmission is through sexual and parenteral routes, and recent estimations suggest nearly 750 million people are infected with HPgV worldwide. Almost 25% of infected individuals can develop persistent infection. Until now, HPgV has been considered a non-pathogenic virus; however, epidemiological studies suggest a potential role in lymphoproliferative diseases, particularly in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The evidence of this is controversial and the role of HPgV in lymphomagenesis has not yet been demonstrated. Several studies report a high prevalence of HPgV infection in patients with NHL compared to controls and patients with other hematological diseases. Therefore, analytic studies show that HPgV could be related to an increased risk of NHL development. Conversely, other studies indicate no association between HPgV and NHL, so the role of HPgV in lymphomagenesis is not clear. This review summarizes the main findings related to HPgV's pathogenic potential and association with NHL.