Restored antioxidant capacity parallels the immunologic and virologic improvement in children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus infection receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.
CD3+CD4+ T-lymphocyte numbers, viral load, and serum antioxidant capacity were evaluated in 20 children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection one month (T = -1) and one day (T = 0) before and one month (T = 1) and two months (T = 2) after a treatment switch to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Antioxidant capacity micromol/L) was evaluated by measuring the cuprous ion deriving from a known amount of cupric ion. Compared to control values (998 +/- 113 micromol/L), values in HIV-infected children were lower before HAART (T = -1, 848 +/- 211 micromol/L, P = 0.008; T = 0, 732 +/- 131 micromol/L, P < 0.0001), but similar during HAART (T = 1, 914 +/- 121 micromol/L, P = 0.089; T = 2; 957 +/- 155 micromol/L, P = 0.528; T = 1 and T = 2 vs T = 0, P < 0.0001). Immunologic and virologic improvement paralleled the restored antioxidant capacity. HAART may restore antioxidant capacity suppressing HIV, which inhibits antioxidant capacity. A positive feedback may be triggered since restored antioxidant capacity counterbalances the oxidative stress, which enhances lymphocyte apoptosis and HIV replication.
de Martino
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. maurizio.demartino@unifi.it
Chiarelli
F
F
Moriondo
M
M
Torello
M
M
Azzari
C
C
Galli
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; C042514:cuprous ion; D003300:Copper