Assessment of the Level of Cytokines in People living with HIV, HCV and HIV/HCV Individuals in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Cytokines, play a crucial role regulating the immune response and coordinating the communication between cells of the immune system and other tissues. The co-infection of HIV/HCV in patients compared to mono infections has been discovered to have reduced anti-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and dehydroepiandrosteronesulphate in plasma. The aim of this study therefore, is to compare the level of some inflammatory cytokines such as the Interleukine 1B, 6,12, Tumour Necrosis Factor α in HIV-positive, HCV (mono infection) and HIV/HCV co-infected individuals. Blood samples were collected from 1250 HIV-negative individuals and 550 HIV-positive patients attending the antiretroviral clinic in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between November 2018 and October 2019. Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to screen for HCV antibodies (for detection of HCV mono-infection and HIV/HCV co-infection) and determination of cytokines levels. Thirty-six HIV-negative infected individuals (2.88%) tested positive for HCV antibody and, twenty-four (4.4%) tested positive for HCV antibody in the HIV-positive individuals. The IL1β in HIV mono-infection was significantly (P < 0.05) lower. The IL 6 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among HIV mono infection. The HIV/HCV showed a higher significant level (P < 0.05) for IL12, while there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) across the groups for TNFα. Findings from this study discovered a higher level of cytokines across the three groups than in previously reported findings. It is recommended that measures be put in place to control pollutions which may lead to cytokine increase.