Glutathione depletion in HIV-infected patients: role of cysteine deficiency and effect of oral N-acetylcysteine.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Glutathione depletion in HIV-infected patients: role of cysteine deficiency and effect of oral N-acetylcysteine.

AIDS. 1992 Aug;6(8):815-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93039865
de Quay B; Malinverni R; Lauterburg BH; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medizinische Poliklinik,; University of Bern, Switzerland.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a single oral dose of N-acetylcysteine corrects the deficiency of cysteine and glutathione in plasma and mononuclear cells of HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study. METHODS: Cysteine and glutathione were measured in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients at different stages of HIV infection before and after a single oral dose of N-acetylcysteine. RESULTS: At baseline, the plasma concentrations of glutathione and cysteine were significantly lower in HIV-infected patients than in healthy controls. The intracellular concentration of glutathione correlated with the absolute CD4 lymphocyte counts: the concentration of glutathione in mononuclear cells was significantly lower in patients with more advanced immunodeficiency. A single oral dose of N-acetylcysteine increased the concentration of cysteine in plasma and mononuclear cells of HIV-infected patients. Four hours after N-acetylcysteine administration, intracellular glutathione concentrations in the patients were moderately higher than at baseline and at 2 h. CONCLUSIONS: Oral N-acetylcysteine transiently increases the concentrations of cysteine and glutathione in mononuclear cells of patients with HIV infection. A sustained increase in intracellular cysteine may be necessary to normalize intracellular glutathione. This may be accomplished by repeat administration of N-acetylcysteine.

Keywords: Acetylcysteine/*PHARMACOLOGY Administration, Oral Cysteine/BLOOD/DRUG EFFECTS/*DEFICIENCY Glutathione/BLOOD/DRUG EFFECTS/*DEFICIENCY Human HIV Infections/*METABOLISM Leukocytes, Mononuclear/DRUG EFFECTS/METABOLISM Male Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLE
930228
M9320829

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