Oxidative imbalance in HIV infected patients.
We present an outline of the complex interplay of oxidants and antioxidants in infectious diseases in general, and in particular with reference to the HIV infection, and subsequent opportunistic infections. Viral and opportunistic infections may directly or indirectly cause an imbalance in prooxidant/antioxidant mechanisms and result in generation of increased steady state concentrations of reactive oxidants. In HIV patients a prooxidant state could lead to a self-perpetuation of infection via stimulated expression of genes carrying the virus genome, and subsequently to immunosuppression, and promotion of initiated cells to neoplastic growth.
Fuchs
J
J
Zentrum der Dermatologie und Venerologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität, Frankfurt/M, Germany.
Ochsendorf
F
F
Schöfer
H
H
Milbradt
R
R
Rübsamen-Waigmann
H
H
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha