title: High plasma activity of endogenous antioxidants protect CD4+ T-cells in HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual partners in a Nigerian population.
abstract: Antioxidants significantly inhibit oxidative processes. The study seeks to determine the activity of endogenous antioxidants and CD4+ T-cell expression in HIV-serodiscordant-heterosexual partners. The case-control study had the following groups; A- (13 serodiscordant-seronegative subjects), B- (13 serodiscordant-seropositive subjects) and C/control- (13 healthy volunteers). CD4+ T-cell expression was determined using a FACScan (fluorescent activated cell sorting) flow cytometer. CAT (catalase), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GHPX) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were assayed using spectrophotometer. The activities of SOD, GHPX, GST and CAT were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 164.7% (0.090 +/- 0.032), 126% (662 +/- 96), 355.2% (22.023 +/- 1.4) and 119.1% (2.76 +/- 0.10), respectively, in group A when compared with B. The mean CD4+ T-cell (1348 +/- 142) showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase by 237% when compared with group B (400 +/- 182). Conversely, group B revealed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in activity by 86.5% (CAT), 76.5% (SOD), 106.8% (GHPX) and 81.8% (GST) when compared with C. CD4+ T-cells in groups A and C (1390 +/- 190) did not show any significant decrease (3.11%). The antioxidant activity showed a positive correlation (P < 0.01, r = 0.89) with their respective CD4+ T-cells in groups A and C. Group B showed same positive correlation (P < 0.01, r = 0.76). These results show that high activity of endogenous antioxidants may have a protective role on CD4+ T-cells, which limits HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria. ibeh.barth@mouau.edu.ng
authors.forename: Bartholomew O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Ibeh
authors.forename: Onyechi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Obidoa
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Uzoegwu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase