Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41859093›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Cytokine imbalance and HBV-specific T-cell exhaustion predict disease progression in HIV-HBV coinfection.

Peter Asaga Mac, Dave C Ibeh, Mansur Aliyu Ramalan, Bako A Ishaku

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Peter Asaga MacInstitute of Infectious Disease Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Freiburg, Germany.
Dave C IbehNIL, Nigeria Army Reference Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Mansur Aliyu RamalanDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Federal University of Lafia, Lafia, Nigeria.
Bako A IshakuDepartment of Epidemiology, Federal University of Lafia, Lafia, Nigeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: HIV-HBV coinfection accelerates liver disease, yet the immunological mechanisms underlying adverse outcomes remain incompletely characterized in African populations. We investigated relationships between HBV reactivation, cytokine dysregulation, T-cell dysfunction, and disease progression in a Nigerian cohort. Methods: We screened 1,139 participants across four Nigerian states. Of 344 HIV-positive individuals, 53 (15.4%) had HBV coinfection. For detailed immunological and longitudinal analyses, 59 coinfected participants with complete datasets were included in the mechanistic cohort. Comprehensive assessments including HBV DNA quantification, S-gene sequencing, cytokine profiling, and HBV-specific T-cell responses were performed on 59 coinfected patients with longitudinal follow-up. Results: Phylogenetic analysis indicated 71.4% (30/42) of cases with rising HBV DNA were consistent with reactivation. HBV genotype E predominated (94.3%). Coinfected patients demonstrated elevated IL-6 and TNF-α with reduced IFN-γ compared with HIV-monoinfected controls (all p < 0.001). The IL-6/IFN-γ ratio correlated with HBV viral load (r = 0.74), APRI score (r = 0.71), and CD4+ count (r = -0.64; all p < 0.001). HBV-specific polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells were markedly reduced (median 0.08% vs 3.8% in controls; p < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression, IL-6/IFN-γ ratio >4.0 (HR 4.12, 95% CI 1.86-9.14), CD4+ <200 cells/µL (HR 3.24, 95% CI 1.58-6.64), and APRI >1.0 (HR 2.86, 95% CI 1.34-6.11) independently predicted progression, whilst preserved T-cell polyfunctionality was protective (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.15-0.68). Conclusions: HIV-HBV coinfection was characterized by HBV reactivation, cytokine imbalance, and T-cell exhaustion, which were associated with disease progression and may inform risk stratification.

Indexed as

CoinfectionCytokinesHepatitis BHepatitis B virusHIV InfectionsAdultDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedT-Cell ExhaustionViral LoadCytokinescytokine dysregulationHBV reactivationHIV-HBV coinfectionliver fibrosisNigeriaT-cell exhaustion

Identifiers

PMID41859093
PMCPMC12996162

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.