Alcohol Impairs Bioenergetics and Differentiation Capacity of Myoblasts from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Female Macaques.

Alcohol misuse and HIV independently induce myopathy. We previously showed that chronic binge alcohol (CBA) administration, with or without simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), decreases differentiation capacity of male rhesus macaque myoblasts. We hypothesized that short-term alcohol and CBA/SIV would synergistically decrease differentiation capacity and impair bioenergetic parameters in female macaque myoblasts. Myoblasts from naïve (CBA-/SIV-), vehicle [VEH]/SIV, and CBA/SIV (N = 4-6/group) groups were proliferated (3 days) and differentiated (5 days) with 0 or 50 mM ethanol (short-term). CBA/SIV decreased differentiation and increased non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) versus naïve and/or VEH/SIV. Short-term alcohol decreased differentiation; increased maximal and non-mitochondrial OCR, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and aldolase activity; and decreased glycolytic measures, ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and pyruvate kinase activity. Mitochondrial ROS production was closely associated with mitochondrial network volume, and differentiation indices were closely associated with key bioenergetic health and function parameters. Results indicate that short-term alcohol and CBA non-synergistically decrease myoblast differentiation capacity. Short-term alcohol impaired myoblast glycolytic function, driving the bioenergetic deficit. Results suggest potentially differing mechanisms underlying decreased differentiation capacity with short-term alcohol and CBA, highlighting the need to elucidate the impact of different alcohol use patterns on myopathy.

Factors contributing to spontaneous Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques.

BACKGROUND: A cohort of SIV-infected macaques had been used to investigate the effect of dietary supplement, immune status, SIV/AIDS disease progression and serum micronutrients levels on spontaneous acquisition of Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in SIV-infected macaques. METHODS: Twenty-four SIV-infected macaques were randomized into 2 groups. One group received a vitamin/mineral supplementation and a second group received a placebo. Both groups were examined for E. bieneusi infection. RESULTS: SIV-infected macaques were more prone to acquire E. bieneusi with the progression of SIV/AIDS, and the increased shedding of infectious spores was directly associated with decreased CD4 lymphocyte and increased circulating SIV, in both supplemented and unsupplemented groups of animals. Dietary supplementation, body composition factors and serum micronutrients levels however had no association with the acquisition of E. bieneusi infection in these animals. CONCLUSIONS: Acquisition of E. bieneusi infection is related to SIV disease progression, CD4 counts and viral load but independent of changes in body composition and serum micronutrient levels.