title: Protective effect of acetyl-L-carnitine against oxidative stress induced by antiretroviral drugs.
abstract: Both HIV infection per se and antiretroviral drugs might contribute to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions. In this study we assess zidovudine, stavudine and didanosine on U937 and CEM cell lines. All these drugs induced apoptosis and increased intracellular hydrogen peroxide but not superoxide anions. The addition of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) was able to prevent the pro-oxidant effect of the drugs tested. Supplementation with ALC, deficient in certain cohorts of HIV-infected individuals, especially on high active antiretroviral therapy regimen, has been associated with favourable effects. These data suggest that one of these effects could be a direct anti-oxidant action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of General Pathology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Via Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferraresi
authors.forename: Leonarda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roat
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nemes
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lugli
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinti
authors.forename: Menotti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvani
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannuccelli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide