GB virus C infection is associated with a reduced rate of reactivation of latent HIV and protection against activation-induced T-cell death

Background GB virus C (GBV-C) coinfection is associated with reduced immune activation and a block in CD4+ T-cell proliferation following interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy in HIV-infected individuals. We examined peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV-infected subjects with and without GBV-C viraemia to determine if GBV-C correlated with reactivation of latent HIV, T-cell proliferation or T-cell survival following in vitro activation with phytohaemagglutinin A and IL-2 (PHA/IL-2).