Contribution to characterization of oxidative stress in HIV/AIDS patients

Infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes persistent chronic inflammation. Viral Tat protein plays a role in the intracellular increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) thus increasing apoptotic index, mostly the one mediated by FAS/CD95, and depleting CD4+ T lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between an extensive array of redox status indices (glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidation potential, total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total hydroperoxide (TH), DNA fragmentation) and relative CD4, CD95, CD38/CD8 T lymphocyte counts in HIV/AIDS patients compared to healthy subjects. Blood samples from 85 HIV/AIDS patients and 40 healthy subjects were tested by spectrophotometric techniques in order to measure oxidative stress indices, and by flow cytometry to quantify T cell subsets. Patients were divided in two groups according to CDC 1993 guidelines. CD95 and CD38 increase paralleled the severity of HIV infection. Both a reduction of GSH levels and an increase in MDA and TH levels were detected in the plasma of HIV+ patients. These patients also showed an increase of DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes as well as a significant (P