Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) is believed to play an important role in the activation of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Recent findings suggesting an involvement of reactive oxygen species in signal transduction pathways leading to NF-kappa B activation have ensured the possible clinical use of antioxidants in blocking HIV activation. The present study examined the effects of vitamin E derivatives on the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced NF-kappa B activation. Incubation of human Jurkat T cells with vitamin E acetate or alpha-tocopheryl succinate (10 microM to 1 mM) exhibited a concentration dependent inhibition of NF-kappa B activation. alpha-Tocopherol or succinate at these concentrations had no apparent effects. 2,2,5,7,8-Pentamethyl-6-hydroxychromane (PMC) was extremely effective, causing complete inhibition of NF-kappa B activation at 10 microM. Oct-1 binding activity was inactivated by alpha-tocopheryl succinate whereas other derivatives had no effects, suggesting that the effects of alpha-tocopheryl succinate are not specific to NF-kappa B. HPLC measurements demonstrated that treatment of cells with TNF-alpha had no effects on cellular alpha-tocopherol, but vitamin E acetate treatment increased the alpha-tocopherol content. Cell viability was not affected by any of the vitamin E derivatives. These results indicate a possible use of vitamin E derivatives in AIDS therapeutics.
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PMID:Inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by vitamin E derivatives. 850 18

Infectious diseases remain among the most morbid events and are an important cause of death in ESRD. These events are related to an acquired immunodeficiency that progresses during the development of uremic retention, as part of the broader spectrum, displayed by the "uremic syndrome". A central role in the hose defense against bacterial infection is played by the phagocytic polymorphonuclear white blood cells, which are characterized by the capacity to ingest bacteria (phagocytosis), which is followed by the destruction of those bacteria (killing capacity). This article reviews the mechanisms of development and the potential causes that have been held responsible for this aspect of the defective immune function. The observed changes are attributed to alterations in receptor expression, although more convincing evidence points in the direction of metabolic functional disturbances, especially in the NAD(P)H-oxidase-dependent production of oxygen free radicals. The most important causative factors are: uremic toxicity, iron overload, renal anemia, dialyzer bioincompatibility, and the type of renal replacement therapy. It is concluded that the phagocytic defect in ESRD is multifactorial and that each factor should be managed by specific therapeutic approaches.
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PMID:Infectious morbidity and defects of phagocytic function in end-stage renal disease: a review. 850 9

Flow cytometry was used to study phagocytic function and release of reactive oxygen products following phagocytosis by neutrophils (PMNL) and monocytes of heparinized whole blood from stage 1 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected men. Phagocytic capacity was assessed by measuring uptake of Texas red-labeled bacteria. Reactive oxygen generation after phagocytosis was estimated by the quantity of dichlorofluorescein diacetate converted to dichlorofluorescein intracellularly. Compared with results in samples from age- and sex-matched controls, PMNL and monocytes from HIV-1-infected patients exhibited a significantly increased capacity to phagocytose Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and generate reactive oxygen products. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that stimuli associated with early HIV-1 infection enhance the nonspecific response of phagocytic cells to potential bacterial pathogens.
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PMID:Increased phagocytosis and generation of reactive oxygen products by neutrophils and monocytes of men with stage 1 human immunodeficiency virus infection. 851 35

Oxidative stress has been suggested to be an important factor in the immunopathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Reduced plasma thiols may lead to production of reactive oxygen species, thus contributing to the oxidative stress. We quantified the total, reduced, and protein-bound forms of the thiols homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and methionine in plasma from 21 HIV-infected patients and 15 healthy control subjects and compared the results with clinical and immunologic indexes. The HIV-infected patients had significantly higher concentrations of reduced homocysteine in plasma compared with control subjects. No significant differences in reduced homocysteine concentrations were noted when asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV-infected patients were compared, and we did not find any relation between reduced homocysteine concentrations and other markers of immunodeficiency. The HIV-infected patients had normal total homocysteine concentrations. The reduced cysteinylglycine concentration tended to be elevated in the patient group. No differences between HIV-infected patients and control subjects were found for reduced or total cysteine. Compared with control subjects, the HIV-infected patients had lower concentrations of methionine in plasma, and a significant correlation was found between low concentrations of methionine and low CD4+ lymphocyte counts in blood. Elevated concentrations of reduced homocysteine could possibly contribute to formation of reactive oxygen species, leading to accelerated immunologic deterioration and increased HIV replication.
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PMID:Elevated plasma concentration of reduced homocysteine in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. 856 Oct 66

We are currently using caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection in goats as a model to understand changes in some clinical parameters and host response to infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The objective of this study was to measure changes in serum antioxidant activities in various age groups of goats infected with CAEV. Serum from CAEV-infected goats had significantly higher catalase activity (105.47 +/- 5.96 kU/l) than serum from healthy control goats (79.92 +/- 17.06 kU/l). Moreover, serum catalase activity increased with increase in the time after infection with CAEV. No change was observed in total superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione peroxidase activity although CuZn SOD levels were elevated in infected goats. There was a positive correlation between serum catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity (r = 0.70, p < 0.05). In order to investigate cell membrane integrity, we determined lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in infected goats. Although there was a transient increase in LDH no correlation was observed between increased serum catalase activity and LDH activity (r = 0.16, p > 0.05). We have earlier observed decreased oxyradical production in CAEV infected goats. This observed increase in serum catalase, a scavenger of endogenous free radicals such as H2O2 may be partly responsible for the observed decrease in oxygen radicals found in vivo.
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PMID:Changes in serum antioxidant concentrations during infection with caprine lentivirus. 857 49

The factors contributing to unequal mortality rates following Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in different groups at risk are poorly understood. We therefore compared the first episodes of PCP without prophylaxis in human immunodeficiency virus infected (HIV) and otherwise immunosuppressed patients in this retrospective study. A total of 58 HIV-infected and 16 otherwise immunosuppressed patients were analysed. The comparison included epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, radiological and microbiological data, as well as therapy and clinical course. A prognostic analysis was performed using a logistic regression model. The mortality was significantly different in the two groups (HIV group 17 versus non-HIV group 50%). Renal transplant patients had a higher survival rate as compared to malignancy or collagen vascular disease as underlying diseases at risk. Acute respiratory failure was more common in the non-HIV group. Variables found to be significantly associated with lethal outcome in univariate analysis were alveolar to arterial pressures difference for oxygen (P(A-a),O2), haemoglobin, platelet count, total protein, serum albumin, and gamma-globulins in the HIV-group, and serum albumin in the non-HIV group. In the multivariate analysis of the HIV group, platelet count and gamma-globulins remained independent prognostic factors. In conclusion, in the HIV-group, mortality is closely related to the severeness of PCP as well as to the severeness of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease. In the non-HIV group, malignancy and collagen vascular disease as underlying conditions at risk account for the high mortality rate. Its severeness was mainly reflected by serum albumin, which represented the only variable found to be significantly associated with death in both groups.
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PMID:Clinical characteristics and outcome of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-infected and otherwise immunosuppressed patients. 857 83

An improved method for long-term perfusion of the isolated human term placental lobule has been developed to investigate the maternofetal transfer of infectious agents, in particular the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of this paper is to describe those modifications that allow for substantially prolonged perfusions in in a biohazard environment. The method described has been adapted from previous models. The perfusion apparatus has been modified for use within a biohazard hood, and, intravenous bags contain the medium for circulation of perfusates in closed circuits. A Mera Silox-S 0.3 membrane oxygenator delivers more oxygen to the tissue, and, Electromedic Cardioplegia heat exchangers warm the perfusate prior to oxygenation. Viability criteria (glucose consumption, lactate production, de novo production of human placental lactogen (hPL), volume loss, flow, temperature, pressure, oxygen transfer, carbon dioxide production, absence of IgM transfer and light and electron microscopy) demonstrate that the placental tissue remains in a functional state throughout the perfusion. Oxygen and glucose consumption are both stable over time; lactate levels remain constant; and hPL continues to be produced. These significant modifications of the perfusion system have permitted the investigators to increase the duration of perfusion to 48 h while preserving normal metabolic function of ultrastructurally intact tissue as demonstrated by ultra structural observations. This perfusion model device provides biohazard precautions and may be applied to other studies of placental physiology.
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PMID:Long-term dual perfusion of isolated human placental lobules with improved oxygenation for infectious diseases research. 871 Aug 14

Bio-normalizer, a natural Japanese health food prepared by the fermentation of Carica papaya, exhibits therapeutic properties against various pathologies including tumors and immunodeficiency. To understand the mechanism of bio-normalizer's therapeutic effects, we studied its action on the production of active oxygen species in cell-free systems (the Fenton reaction, the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, and the hydrogen peroxide-hypochloride or hydrogen peroxide-horseradish peroxidase systems) and by human blood neutrophils and erythrocytes and rat peritoneal macrophages. Bio-normalizer efficiently inhibited the formation of oxygen radicals in cell-free systems and partly decreased spontaneous and menadione-stimulated superoxide production by erythrocytes, but manifested both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on oxygen radical release by dormant and activated phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages). We suggest that bio-normalizer is able to enhance the intracellular production of innocuous superoxide ion and, at the same time, to diminish the formation of reactive hydroxyl radicals, perhaps by the inactivation of ferrous ions, the catalysts of the superoxide-driven Fenton reaction. We also propose that the normalization of an organism's superoxide level is one of the molecular mechanisms of bio-normalizer activity.
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PMID:Effects of bio-normalizer (a food supplementation) on free radical production by human blood neutrophils, erythrocytes, and rat peritoneal macrophages. 874 24

Clinically significant methemoglobinemia can develop as a result of medications. Although dapsone and primaquine are known to produce methemoglobinemia in susceptible individuals, methemoglobinemia has been reported only rarely in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) population. We describe five cases of methemoglobinemia caused by either primaquine or dapsone alone or in combination. The initial methemoglobin level ranged from 15.3% in the patient whose methemoglobinemia was caused by primaquine alone to 33.1%. Five patients developed symptomatic methemoglobinemia requiring hospitalization for 1 to 12 days. Two cases resulted from intentional overdoses of dapsone, and three developed within several days of commencing primaquine while dapsone remained present in the bloodstream. The four severe cases required intravenous methylene blue, supplemental oxygen, plus erythrocyte transfusions, whereas the mild case responded to oxygen therapy plus discontinuation of the precipitating drugs. Blood gases and pulse oximetry do not aid in the diagnosis, which requires cooximetry. Our study indicates that dapsone and primaquine alone or in combination can produce clinically significant methemoglobinemia in HIV-infected individuals, either in the setting of an overdose or when primaquine is instituted before dapsone has been cleared from the bloodstream.
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PMID:Dapsone- and primaquine-induced methemoglobinemia in HIV-infected individuals. 875 24

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells from a cohort of 34 human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons with established Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were examined for expression of tumor necrosis factors (TNF-alpha) mRNA by fluorescence in situ hybridization with an antisense riboprobe. Video image analysis was used to develop a quantitative assay that evaluates relative single-cell levels of mRNA. The resulting data were analyzed as an antisense-to-sense ratio and examined for correlation between TNF-alpha mRNA expression and other measures of disease severity. Higher levels of TNF-alpha mRNA were seen in persons who had higher levels of arterial oxygen.
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PMID:Synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage cells from human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. 876 32


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