Suppression of tissue levels of vitamin A, E, zinc and copper in murine aids

Abstract

Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with LP-BM5 retrovirus, causing murine acquired immune deficiency syndrome (MAIDS) which is functionally similar to human AIDS. Because human immunodeficiency virus may compromise nutritional status and nutritional disorders have been found in AIDS patients, the influence of murine retrovirus infection on levels of important immune-related nutrients (vitamin A, E, zinc and copper) in the serum, liver, small intestine, spleen and thymus was determined in MAIDS. The levels of vitamin A, E and copper in the liver in MAIDS were significantly reduced compared to controls, whereas the level of zinc in the liver was not affected. Intestinal level of vitamin A was significantly reduced by retrovirus infection, whereas copper level in the small intestine was significantly increased compared to controls. Intestinal levels of zinc and vitamin E were not affected. The levels of vitamin A, E and zinc in the spleen in murine AIDS were significantly rebared compared to controls, whereas the splenic level of copper was not influenced. The levels of vitamin A, E and copper in the thymus in MAIDS were significantly lessened by retrovirus infection compared to controls, whereas thymic level of zinc was significantly elevated. The levels of vitamin A and E in the serum in MAIDS were significantly decreased by retrovirus infection compared to controls. The data indicated that retrovirus infection can directly cause malnutrition, possible via damaging gastrointestinal cells, thereby leading to malabsorption. Such malnutrition has the theoretical potential to accelerate development of AIDS via immunosuppression secondary to nutritional deficiency.