Short Communication - (2018) Volume 4, Issue 2
Ezimah-Nto Uloaku Akunueze1, Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi2*, Ezimah Chinyereugo Onyemobi3, Nto Johnson4 and Ezimah Anthony Chijioke Uzoanya5
1Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Nigeria
2Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Department of University Health Services, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
3Department of Pharmacy, Bank Hospital, Umuahia, Nigeria
4Department of Anatomy, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Nigeria
5Department of Physiology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Nigeria
Corresponding Author:
Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi
Diagnostic Laboratory Services
Department of University Health Services
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture
Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Tel: +2348037369912
E-mail: emmanuelobeagu@yahoo.com
Received date: July 9, 2018; Accepted date: July 24, 2018; Published date: July 31, 2018
Citation: Akunueze EU, Ifeanyi OE, Onyemobi EC, Johnson N, Uzoanya EAU (2018) Antioxidants in the Management of Human Immuodeficiency Virus Infection. J HIV Retrovirus. Vol 4. No.2:12
Copyright: © 2018 Akunueze EU, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a major scourge ravaging affected individuals and communities, particularly in third World countries. The management of this condition requires a more comprehensive approach that will relieve factors known to enhance faster disease progression and poor outcome. The objective of this review is to elaborate the biochemical importance of antioxidants in the termination of oxygen free radicals in HIV infection.
Keywords
Antioxidants; HIV; Management
Introduction
Some degree of oxidative stress occurs in most, if not all human diseases and is suspected to make a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of the disease [1]. Human Immunodeficiency Virus generates high level of oxygen free radicals as a result of multisystem effect on the body of the patients. This increased release of OFRs may be part of the pathogenesis of HIV which if allowed will continue to affect the immunity of the patients. Small amounts of Oxygen Free Radicals (OFRs) are constantly generated in aerobic organisms. Low levels of OFRs are reported to be essential in a plethora of cellular processes, but accumulation of OFRs may damage biological macromolecules, leading to cytotoxicity, allergy, mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity [2].
Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the proximal agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) [3]. Chronic diarrhea, fever, wasting, fatigue, pulmonary tuberculosis, Kaposi sarcoma and multiple opportunistic infections are some of its associated disorders [4,5]. HIV infection is one of the potential causes of excessive generation of oxygen free radicals.
The time from initial exposure to HIV to the onset of clinical AIDS is variable. For partly unknown reasons, the average time for progression from HIV infection to death in some patients is fast [6]. Understanding the importance of different factors that may or may not aid HIV disease progression may prove to be critical in the development of appropriate therapeutic strategies for the management of HIV infection as the disease behaves without uniformity [7].
Role of Antioxidants
Antioxidant protection against free radical attack may be accountable for an individual’s susceptibility to disease development as some studies have revealed low antioxidant levels in groups of patients [1,8].
Free radicals (Table 1) are partially reduced chemical species that have a single unpaired electron in an outer orbit.
| Superoxide radical |
| Hydrogen peroxide |
| Hydroxyl radical |
| Peroxyl radical |
| Nitric oxide radical |
| Hypochlorous acid |
| Peroxides |
| Heme proteins |
| Singlet oxygen |
Table 1: Biologically relevant oxygen free radicals.
Energy created by this unstable configuration is released through reactions with adjacent molecules, with the potential to damage lipids, proteins and nucleic acids [2]. Autocatalytic reactions initiated by free radicals convert susceptible molecule to free radicals to propagate the chain damage [9,10]. Free radical attack has been linked to numerous pathological conditions [1].
Antioxidants such as Vitamin E and A, as well as ascorbic acid and glutathione in the cytosol blocks the initiation of free radical damage. Some enzymatic systems also contribute to the inactivation of free radical reactions. These break down hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. The enzymes are usually located near the sites of generation of the oxidants. Catalase present in peroxisomes decomposes hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 (2H2O2 → O2 +2H2O). Superoxide dismutases found in many cell types convert superoxides to inactivate molecules, H2O2 (2O2-+2H → H2O2+O2) [11]. This group is reported to include both the manganese-superoxide dismutase which is found in the cytosol. Glutathione also confers protection against cellular injury by detoxifying oxygen free radicals [12].
Where there is inadequate antioxidant activity, cells undergo sequential biochemical and morphologic changes as they are progressively injured and ultimately die by necrosis. In many disease conditions, the outcome of enhanced free radical production depends on the net balance between free radical formation and termination [13]. The idea of supplementing antioxidants in the management of HIV is based on the scavenging roles of antioxidant and reducing the free radicals into non damaging effects.
Investigation
Research in the area of antioxidants and free radicals is probably one of the most dynamic areas of scientific research. As a result, antioxidant tests have moved from the research Laboratory into routine Clinical Chemistry, and now part of general health screening programmes. A range of antioxidant tests is currently available from Randox (UK), including enzymes and the only commercially available test for Total Antioxidant Status (TAS).
Conclusion
Malnutrition is a major problem in parts of the world where HIV is most prevalent, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa [14]. This is more so in the face of certain micronutrient deficiencies in the population infected by HIV. Regular administration of antioxidant to HIV patients could be immensely beneficial. This will be more so in the situation of poor socioeconomic condition and high cost of anti-retroviral drugs in some of the communities where HIV infection and its sequelae is now epidemic.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
