Mitochondrial DNA levels in the brain of HIV-positive patients after zidovudine therapy.
Previous studies have shown that the antiviral nucleoside analogue zidovudine (AZT) depletes levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in muscle of patients on long-term therapy. In this study we found that in a similar group of eight HIV-positive patients receiving AZT there was no depletion of brain mtDNA. This finding suggests that AZT-related mtDNA depletion is not a contributing factor in the HIV encephalopathy that occurs in a proportion of HIV-positive patients receiving this antiviral agent.
Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
F D
FD
Davison
B J
BJ
Sweeney
F
F
Scaravilli
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000209:etiology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D003720:Densitometry; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D015215:Zidovudine