Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have shown that mitochondrial antioxidant
For their experiment, the scientists usedhumanized mice with human immune cells that can be infected with HIV. They infected test animals with the virus and treated them with antiretroviral therapy consisting of tenofovir, emtricitabine, and raltegravir. After taking the drugs, half of the mice were given MitoQ along with their drinking water.
The study showed that compared toIn uninfected mice, mitochondrial dysfunction in human immune cells in the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and intestines was observed in HIV-infected mice treated with the therapy. At the same time, in mice that received a nutritional supplement along with therapy, mitochondrial dysfunction in organs decreased compared to those that took only drugs.
Mitochondria are key cellular structureswhich are important for the normal functioning of all body systems. HIV causes chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, which contribute to organ damage. The reasons for this are unclear, but mitochondrial dysfunction is known to contribute to organ damage and is seen in HIV.
The researchers note that the current resultsare preliminary and require validation in human clinical trials. While humanized mice provide a good preliminary model for research, they do not fully replicate HIV infection in humans. Further trials will show if the dietary supplement can be used to treat comorbidities in HIV infection.
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On the cover: A T cell infected with HIV. Image: NIAID, UCLA