Human platelets antigens influence the viral load of platelets after the interaction of the platelets with HCV and HIV in vitro.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - platelet interactions in vitro as well as human platelets antigen (HPA) polymorphisms.

METHODS: Platelets were obtained from 100 healthy HPA-genotyped volunteer donors and incubated with HIV or HCV. The viral load after in vitro exposure was detected.

RESULTS: The viral load in the platelets after exposure to the virus was higher in the HIV exposure than in the HCV exposure.

CONCLUSIONS: HIV-platelet ligation could be more efficient than HCV-platelet interaction. Further, the HPA-1b allele seems to influence the interaction of platelets with HCV.