Abstract
Background:Virus infections are associated with significant alterations in host cells amino acids profiles that support biosynthetic demands necessary for production of viral progeny. Amino acids play an important role in the pathogenesis of all virus-related infections both as basic substrates for protein synthesis and as regulators in many metabolic pathways.Objective:Our aim was to determine the changes in plasma L-carnitine levels and its amino acid precursor (L-lysine) in HIV-infected patients.Methods:We performed a case-control study of 430 HIV-1 infected males (non-vegetarians) without any restriction in the nourishment, before highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 125 HIV-1 subjects after the introduction of HAART who were periodically monitored in the Municipal Center of HIV/AIDS prophylaxis, Surgut, Russian FederationResults:The plasma total (TC) and free (FC) L-carnitine concentrations markedly decreased with the clinical stages of HIV infection. The mean plasma TC, FC and L-lysine levels were significantly lower in asymptomatic stage (A) and advanced CDC stages (B, C) HIV-infected patients compared with our reference values. The total and free L-carnitine and its amino acid precursor concentrations mild increased in HIV-infected subjects after the introduction of HAART.Our data revealed that L-lysine amino acid and its derivative (TC) levels were negatively correlated with viral load and inversely with CD4 count lymphocytes in the total cohort.Conclusion:The study results show that there was evidence for an association between plasma L-carnitine, L-lysine and HIV-1 RNA levels, immunological markers and clinical stages of HIV infection. The obtained data indicate that level changes of these host essential nutritional elements can play an important role in the HIV life cycle. These findings are important for understanding the pathophysiology of HIV infection and must be considered in further research for the development of new approaches in the treatment of the disease.
Highlights
IntroductionDespite the considerable efforts of the world community and the optimistic expectations of achieving the main goals in response to new cases of HIV-infection (such as universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support) the1874-091X/17 2017 Bentham Open120 The Open Biochemistry Journal, 2017, Volume 11Evgeny V
Despite the considerable efforts of the world community and the optimistic expectations of achieving the main goals in response to new cases of HIV-infection the1874-091X/17 2017 Bentham Open120 The Open Biochemistry Journal, 2017, Volume 11Evgeny V
Our data revealed that L-lysine amino acid and its derivative (TC) levels were negatively correlated with viral load and inversely with CD4 count lymphocytes in the total cohort (P
Summary
Despite the considerable efforts of the world community and the optimistic expectations of achieving the main goals in response to new cases of HIV-infection (such as universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support) the1874-091X/17 2017 Bentham Open120 The Open Biochemistry Journal, 2017, Volume 11Evgeny V. The development of new effective methods and approaches in the treatment of HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy remains an urgent and pressing need. No doubts that viral infections trigger metabolic alterations in host cells that support the energetic and biosynthetic demands of viral replication. It has long been known that infection with viruses leads to general activation of host cell metabolism [1 - 19], energy dysfunction and significant alterations in protein [20 - 25] and amino acids profiles [26 30]. Virus infections are associated with significant alterations in host cells amino acids profiles that support biosynthetic demands necessary for production of viral progeny. Amino acids play an important role in the pathogenesis of all virus-related infections both as basic substrates for protein synthesis and as regulators in many metabolic pathways
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