Imbalance of antioxidant enzymes activities and trace elements levels in Ghanaian HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been associated with high oxidative stress in HIV patients. The disparity in antioxidant-oxidant levels in HIV patients favours viral replication and disease progression. This study aimed at determining the effect of ART on antioxidant enzymes activities and trace elements levels in Ghanaian HIV patients. A total of 242 participants; comprising of 105 HIV-infected patients on ART, 77 HIV-infected ART-naïve, and 60 HIV seronegative controls were recruited for the study. Whole blood was collected and used for haematological profiling, and the determination of CD4 + counts, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and trace element levels. Serum was used for liver function tests and the determination of glutathione reductase (GR) activity, and plasma was used to estimate reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Low levels of haemoglobin (HB), hematocrit, mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), and trace elements were found in ART-naïve patients compared to those on ART and the seronegative controls. In the ART-naïve patients, glutathione reductase (GR) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) level were significantly low compared to patients on ART and seronegative controls. Activity of SOD was significantly reduced in ART-naïve patients compared to those on ART and the control group, and manganese is the only trace element that showed a strong negative correlation with SOD activity and a positive and significant correlation with CD4 + count, and therefore needs to be investigated further. The study suggests that assessing antioxidant levels or enzymes activities of patients infected with HIV should be considered during therapy.

Protective and Ameliorative Effects of Hydroethanolic Extract of Piper nigrum (L.) Stem against Antiretroviral Therapy-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Dyslipidemia in Wistar Rats

“…The TLE regimen caused a significant increase in catalase and reduced glutathione in the negative control group compared to the normal group while significantly reducing superoxide dismutase as presented in Figure 6 . These research findings agree in part with those of Quaye et al who reported that there was a significant increase in the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, and GSH activities in patients treated with ART compared to ART-naïve HIV patients and healthy individuals [ 79 ]. The increase in catalase and GSH mean-specific activities was likely an adaptive reaction to the oxidative challenge caused by the drug as reported by Olaniyan et al who concluded that antiretroviral drugs like lamivudine induce liver toxicity in rats which are mediated by oxidative stress [ 80 ].…”

Hepatic Toxicity Assessment in HIV’s Interaction with Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors at a Military Hospital, Southsouth Nigeria

“…Similar findings reported in Cameroon emphasize the importance of comprehensive assessment and monitoring of hepatic synthetic function in HIV patients on TLD [12]. Moreover, significant differences in GST levels highlight alterations in hepatic detoxification pathways [33], necessitating the evaluation of antioxidant capacity and detoxification mechanisms in HIV patients receiving TLD.…”

“…Moreover, the significant difference in GST levels suggests alterations in hepatic detoxification pathways among HIV-positive individuals [13]. Elevated GST levels, particularly in those on TLD, indicate increased hepatic oxidative stress and cellular injury, emphasizing the need to evaluate hepatic antioxidant capacity and detoxification mechanisms in HIV patients on TLD.…”

Modelling immune deterioration, immune recovery and state-specific duration of HIV-infected women with viral load adjustment: using parametric multistate model

“…MCV and MCH) could thus help health workers identify patients with poor immunological and clinical responses in the absence of CD4 count. Furthermore, the latent variable related to alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase was significantly associated with the intensities of immunological deterioration transitions, and this confirms that the infection is the underlying cause of the increased activities of liver enzymes [36,37]. A study in Ethiopia also reported similar findings [38], showing that lower CD4 count level (CD4 < 200 cells/mm3) was associated with elevated liver enzymes.…”