title: Platelet-activating factor and its basic metabolic enzymes in blood of naive HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a mediator of proatherosclerotic inflammatory processes, is also implicated in endothelial dysfunction during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We examined PAF metabolism in blood of naive male patients, 8 with early HIV infection (group A) and 17 just before treatment initiation (group B), versus 18 healthy age-matched males (group C). Statistical analysis was performed with 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) criterion and Pearson r test. Higher PAF biosynthesis in patients' leukocytes versus group C was accompanied by an increase in lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity that degrades PAF. Moreover, PAF synthesis was higher and Lp-PLA2 activity was lower in group B compared to group A. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 was positively correlated with viral load and negatively correlated with CD4 cell counts in group B. The activities of PAF-basic biosynthetic enzymes in patients' leukocytes were also negatively correlated with CD4 cell counts. The observed continuous increase in PAF biosynthesis during HIV infection progress seems to amplify the risk of AIDS manifestations and/or cardiovascular complications in HIV-infected patients, while a subsequent increase in Lp-PLA2 activity seems to be a host response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. atsoupras@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Alexandros B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tsoupras
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chini
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mangafas
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsogas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stamatakis
authors.forename: Nektaria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsantila
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fragopoulou
authors.forename: Smaragdi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antonopoulou
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gargalianos
authors.forename: Constantinos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Demopoulos
authors.forename: Marios C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lazanas
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002798:Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase / Q000097:blood; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood*; D006115:Greece; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000097:blood; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000123:Acetyltransferases; C046035:1-alkylglycerophosphocholine acetyltransferase; D002798:Diacylglycerol Cholinephosphotransferase; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; C526684:PLA2G7 protein, human