Found this paper when searching for milkthistle's effects at reducing immune activation (through its NF-kB inhibition) - Although as it turns out it works via affecting glucose metabolism as well:
Successful HCV eradication and inhibition of HIV replication by intravenous silibinin in an HIV–HCV coinfected patient
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20709593
Abstract
Introduction: The efficacy of antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) in patients with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is limited. Intravenous silibinin (ivSIL), a milk thistle extract with proven antiviral effects represents a novel therapeutic strategy for virological nonresponders.
Methods: We report a case of an HIV–HCV coinfected patient, who has not responded to a prior course of PEGIFN-α2a (180 μg/week/s.c.) and RBV (1000 mg/day/p.o.). Testing for IL-28β small nucleotid polymorphism revealed the nonfavourable genotype T/T. Antiretroviral therapy was not prescribed because the patients presented with well-preserved CD4+ cell counts and low HIV-RNA levels. She received retreatment with ivSIL for two weeks followed by PEGIFN/RBV combination therapy starting at week 1.
Results: After 2 weeks of ivSIL therapy both HCV-RNA and HIV-RNA become undetectable. On ivSIL monotherapy we noticed a trend towards an increase of CD4+ cell counts and a decrease of HIV-RNA. After 16 weeks PEGIFN + RBV was discontinued due to patients wish because of adverse events. HCV-RNA was still negative 24 weeks after cessation of therapy, while HIV-RNA returned to baseline levels.
Conclusion: ivSIL may represent a potential treatment option for retreatment of HIV–HCV coinfected patients nonresponding to PEGIFN + RBV combination therapy. Further investigations on the possible beneficial effects of ivSIL on CD4+ cell counts and HIV-RNA levels are necessary.
Received: May 12, 2010; Received in revised form: July 1, 2010; Accepted: July 6, 2010; Published Online: August 16, 2010
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2010.07.006 B.A. Payer, T. Reiberger, K. Rutter, S. Beinhardt, A.F. Staettermayer, M. Peck-Radosavljevic, P. Ferenci Medical University of Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A1090 Vienna, Austria
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20709593
Abstract
Introduction: The efficacy of antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) in patients with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is limited. Intravenous silibinin (ivSIL), a milk thistle extract with proven antiviral effects represents a novel therapeutic strategy for virological nonresponders.
Methods: We report a case of an HIV–HCV coinfected patient, who has not responded to a prior course of PEGIFN-α2a (180 μg/week/s.c.) and RBV (1000 mg/day/p.o.). Testing for IL-28β small nucleotid polymorphism revealed the nonfavourable genotype T/T. Antiretroviral therapy was not prescribed because the patients presented with well-preserved CD4+ cell counts and low HIV-RNA levels. She received retreatment with ivSIL for two weeks followed by PEGIFN/RBV combination therapy starting at week 1.
Results: After 2 weeks of ivSIL therapy both HCV-RNA and HIV-RNA become undetectable. On ivSIL monotherapy we noticed a trend towards an increase of CD4+ cell counts and a decrease of HIV-RNA. After 16 weeks PEGIFN + RBV was discontinued due to patients wish because of adverse events. HCV-RNA was still negative 24 weeks after cessation of therapy, while HIV-RNA returned to baseline levels.
Conclusion: ivSIL may represent a potential treatment option for retreatment of HIV–HCV coinfected patients nonresponding to PEGIFN + RBV combination therapy. Further investigations on the possible beneficial effects of ivSIL on CD4+ cell counts and HIV-RNA levels are necessary.
Received: May 12, 2010; Received in revised form: July 1, 2010; Accepted: July 6, 2010; Published Online: August 16, 2010
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2010.07.006 B.A. Payer, T. Reiberger, K. Rutter, S. Beinhardt, A.F. Staettermayer, M. Peck-Radosavljevic, P. Ferenci Medical University of Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A1090 Vienna, Austria
