title: Depletion of mitochondrial DNA in HIV-1-infected patients and its amelioration by antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients and healthy controls were measured longitudinally using real-time polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the effects of antiretroviral agents on mtDNA synthesis in vivo and to assess the value of monitoring mtDNA in PBMCs to predict adverse events amongst these patients. MtDNA levels in PBMCs were significantly decreased in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected patients compared with healthy people. MtDNA levels were not only significantly correlated with CD4(+) T-cell count, but also inversely correlated with HIV-1 viral load. MtDNA levels in untreated patients and healthy controls were stable during the period of observation. On the other hand, amongst patients treated with regimens containing AZT/3TC or d4T/3TC, mtDNA increased during treatment and recovered to levels comparable to healthy controls. In contrast, mtDNA decreased immediately after the initiation of an AZT/ddC-containing regimen. We did not find a correlation between mtDNA levels and changes in clinical parameters. There was no significant difference in mtDNA levels between patients with and those without lipoatrophy. Furthermore, there was no obvious difference in mtDNA levels amongst those patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. In conclusion, the decrease in mtDNA levels in PBMCs amongst HIV-1-infected patients and its amelioration by antiretroviral therapy may suggest the influence of direct effects on mitochondria or mtDNA by HIV-1 infection. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the mechanisms contributing to decreased mtDNA and the value of mtDNA measurement in the care of HIV-1-infected individuals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Advanced Clinical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Mieko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Odawara
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Aikichi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000097:blood*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019344:Lactic Acid