Integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral treatments decrease oxidative stress caused by HIV infection

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Oxidative stress is linked to chronic illnesses, including HIV infection.
• Some antiretroviral therapies can exacerbate oxidative stress despite reducing viral load.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate oxidative stress parameters and thiol-disulphide homeostasis in people living with HIV on integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of 30 treatment-naive HIV patients and 30 healthy controls.
• Serum analysis for total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and protein carbonyl (PC).
• Flow cytometry for CD4+ T-cell counts; calculation of oxidative stress index (OSI) and disulfide levels (DIS).

Main Results:

• Elevated TOS, OSI, MDA, and PC levels in treatment-naive HIV patients compared to those on ART.
• Lower total and native thiol levels in both HIV-infected groups versus controls.
• Positive correlation between TAS and CD4+ T-cell count in treatment-naive HIV patients.

Conclusions:

• Integrase inhibitor-based ART effectively decreases HIV-associated oxidative stress.
• This therapy represents a beneficial option for managing oxidative stress in individuals with HIV.