AIDS Tells the Story of How Critical Glutathione Is

Date:   2/1/2009 12:37:48 PM ( 15 y ago)

this study says that the best indicator for whether or not an AIDS patient will live or die is GSH levels.

http://www.pnas.org/content/94/5/1967.abstract


Glutathione deficiency is associated with impaired survival in HIV disease

Departments of *Genetics and ‡Medicine, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA 94305-5125

Abstract

Glutathione (GSH), a cysteine-containing tripeptide, is essential for the viability and function of virtually all cells. In vitro studies showing that low GSH levels both promote HIV expression and impair T cell function suggested a link between GSH depletion and HIV disease progression.

Clinical studies presented here directly demonstrate that low GSH levels predict poor survival in otherwise indistinguishable HIV-infected subjects. Specifically, we show that GSH deficiency in CD4 T cells from such subjects is associated with markedly decreased survival 2–3 years after baseline data collection (Kaplan–Meier and logistic regression analyses, P < 0.0001 for both analyses). This finding, supported by evidence demonstrating that oral administration of the GSH prodrug N-acetylcysteine replenishes GSH in these subjects and suggesting that N-acetylcysteine administration can improve their survival, establishes GSH deficiency as a key determinant of survival in HIV disease.

Further, it argues strongly that the unnecessary or excessive use of acetaminophen, alcohol, or other drugs known to deplete GSH should be avoided by HIV-infected individuals.

 

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