1. Academic Validation
  2. Protective effect of acetyl-L-carnitine against oxidative stress induced by antiretroviral drugs

Protective effect of acetyl-L-carnitine against oxidative stress induced by antiretroviral drugs

  • FEBS Lett. 2006 Dec 11;580(28-29):6612-6. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.11.016.
Roberta Ferraresi 1 Leonarda Troiano Erika Roat Elisa Nemes Enrico Lugli Milena Nasi Marcello Pinti Menotti Calvani Maurizio Iannuccelli Andrea Cossarizza
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of General Pathology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Via Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Abstract

Both HIV Infection per se and antiretroviral drugs might contribute to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions. In this study we assess zidovudine, stavudine and didanosine on U937 and CEM cell lines. All these drugs induced Apoptosis and increased intracellular hydrogen peroxide but not superoxide anions. The addition of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) was able to prevent the pro-oxidant effect of the drugs tested. Supplementation with ALC, deficient in certain cohorts of HIV-infected individuals, especially on high active antiretroviral therapy regimen, has been associated with favourable effects. These data suggest that one of these effects could be a direct anti-oxidant action.

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