Interferonopathies: From concept to clinical practice.

The horror autoinflammaticus derived from aberrant type I interferon secretion determines a special group of autoinflammatory diseases named interferonopathies. Diverse mechanisms involved in nucleic acids sensing, metabolizing or the lack of interferon signaling retro-control are responsible for the phenotypes associated to Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS), Proteasome-Associated Autoinflammatory Diseases (PRAAS), STING-Associated Vasculopathy with Infancy Onset (SAVI) and certain forms of monogenic Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This review approaches interferonopathies from the basic immunogenetic concept to diagnosis and treatment.

A survey of resistance mutations to reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) among HIV-1 patients in northeast of Iran.

The use of a combination of three-drug regimen has improved HIV-1 infected patients' life span and quality; however the emergence of drug-resistant strains remains a main problem. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) consist of a main part of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) regimen. The present study aimed to investigate resistant mutations to RTI drugs in both treatment naïve and under treatment HIV patients in Mashhad city, north-eastern Iran. RNA was extracted from sera of 22 treatment naïve and 22 under treatment patients. The mean age of under treated and treatment naive groups were 38.5±6.7 and 40.8±7.9 respectively. cDNA was synthesized and amplified with Nested PCR assay targeting specific sequences of RT gene. The PCR products were sent for sequencing. Bidirectional sequencing results were analysed using HIV drug resistance database supplied by Stanford University (HIV Drug Resistance Database, https://hivdb.stanford.edu). Among under treatment patients 10 out of 22 (45%) had at least one high-level resistance mutation which was higher than high level resistance mutation rate among treatment naive cases (P<0.01). Detected resistance mutations were as follows: K101E, K103N, K103E, V106M, V108I, E138A, V179T, Y181C, M184V, Y188L, Y188H, Y188F, G190A, L210W, T215F, T215Y, K219Q, and P225H. A high level of resistance mutations to RT inhibitors was observed that causes drug resistance especially against lamivudine (3TC). Such mutations should be considered as probable responsible for therapeutic failure. Serial surveillance studies of circulating drug resistance mutations are recommended.

Alzheimer-Type Cerebral Amyloidosis in the Context of HIV Infection: Implications for a Proposed New Treatment Approach.

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) are currently broadly prescribed for the treatment of HIV infection but are also thought to prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression by protecting against amyloidosis. Our study evaluates the hypothesis that reverse transcriptase inhibitors protect against Alzheimer-type brain amyloidogenesis in the context of HIV infection. We compiled a case series of participants from a prospective study of the neurological consequences of HIV infection at the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) who had serial neuropsychological and neurological assessments and were on RTIs. Two participants had gross and microscopic examination and immunohistochemistry of the brain at autopsy; one was assessed clinically for Alzheimer's disease by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis of phosphorylated-Tau, Total-Tau and Aß42. Additionally, a larger cohort of 250 autopsied individuals was evaluated for presence of amyloid plaques, Tau, and related pathologies. Three older, virally suppressed individuals with HIV who had long-term treatment with RTIs were included in analyses. Two cases demonstrated substantial cerebral amyloid deposition at autopsy. The third case met clinical criteria for AD based on a typical clinical course and CSF biomarker profile. In the larger cohort of autopsied individuals, the prevalence of cerebral amyloidosis among people with HIV (PWH) was greater for those on RTIs. Our study showed that long-term RTI therapy did not protect against Alzheimer-type brain amyloidogenesis in the context of HIV infection in these patients. Given the known toxicities of RTIs, it is premature to recommend them to individuals at risk or with Alzheimer's disease who do not have HIV infection.

A scientific career from the early 1960s till 2023: A tale of the various protagonists.

In this era spanning more than 60 years (from the early 1960s till today (2023), a broad variety of actors played a decisive role: Piet De Somer, Tom C. Merigan, Paul A. Janssen, Maurice Hilleman, and Georges Smets. Two protagonists (Antonín Holý and John C. Martin) formed with me a unique triangle (the Holý Trinity). Walter Fiers' group (with the help of Jean Content) contributed to the cloning of human ß-interferon, and Piet Herdewijn accomplished the chemical synthesis of an array of anti-HIV 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues. Rudi Pauwels, Masanori Baba, Dominique Schols, Johan Neyts, Lieve Naesens, Anita Van Lierde, Graciela Andrei, Robert Snoeck and Dirk Daelemans, as members of my team, helped me in achieving the intended goal, the development of a selective therapy for virus infections. The collaboration with "Lowie" (Guangdi Li) generated a new dimension for the future.

Antiretroviral Drug Repositioning for Glioblastoma.

Outcomes for glioblastoma (GBM) remain poor despite standard-of-care treatments including surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. Intratumoral heterogeneity contributes to treatment resistance and poor prognosis, thus demanding novel therapeutic approaches. Drug repositioning studies on antiretroviral therapy (ART) have shown promising potent antineoplastic effects in multiple cancers; however, its efficacy in GBM remains unclear. To better understand the pleiotropic anticancer effects of ART on GBM, we conducted a comprehensive drug repurposing analysis of ART in GBM to highlight its utility in translational neuro-oncology. To uncover the anticancer role of ART in GBM, we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatic and in vitro screen of antiretrovirals against glioblastoma. Using the DepMap repository and reversal of gene expression score, we conducted an unbiased screen of 16 antiretrovirals in 40 glioma cell lines to identify promising candidates for GBM drug repositioning. We utilized patient-derived neurospheres and glioma cell lines to assess neurosphere viability, proliferation, and stemness. Our in silico screen revealed that several ART drugs including reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs) demonstrated marked anti-glioma activity with the capability of reversing the GBM disease signature. RTIs effectively decreased cell viability, GBM stem cell markers, and proliferation. Our study provides mechanistic and functional insight into the utility of ART repurposing for malignant gliomas, which supports the current literature. Given their safety profile, preclinical efficacy, and neuropenetrance, ARTs may be a promising adjuvant treatment for GBM.

Clinical benefits of novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: A prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy and safety of ainuovirine+lamivudine+tenofovir (ANV+3TC+TDF) and efavirenz+lamivudine+tenofovir (EFV+3TC+TDF) have been confirmed in previous clinical trials; however, there are no related studies on patient-reported outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these 2 antiretroviral therapy regimens and to understand the patient's symptom experience and subjective experience of sleep quality through patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: This is a single-center prospective cohort study with 243 patients evaluated from October 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Virological effectiveness and patient-reported outcomes results were analyzed. The primary endpoint was the proportion of HIV viral load <50 copies/mL (virological suppression rate) at 48 weeks and the changes in the HIV symptom index and Pittsburgh sleep quality index. RESULTS: The virological suppression rates in the ANV+3TC+TDF and EFV+3TC+TDF groups were 83.6% (102/122) and 87.6% (106/121), respectively, at 48 weeks. In the ANV+3TC+TDF group, the scores of HIV symptom index and pittsburgh sleep quality index in the 48th week were lower than the baseline level (p < 0.05). Logistic regression results showed that the baseline regimen EFV+3TC+TDF was a risk factor for dizziness/lightheadedness (odds ratio = 3.153, 95% confidence interval: 1.473-6.748, p = 0.003), sadness/depression odds ratio = 2.404, 95% confidence interval:1.188-4.871, p = 0.015), and difficulty sleeping (odds ratio = 2.802, 95% confidence interval: 1.437-5.463, p = 0.002) at 48 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Both regimens showed good virological effectiveness; however, compared with ANV+3TC+TDF, the EFV+3TC+TDF regimen reduced the prevalence of HIV-related symptoms.

Profiling the Interaction between Human Serum Albumin and Clinically Relevant HIV Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors.

Tenofovir (TFV) is the active form of the prodrugs tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), both clinically prescribed as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The biophysical interactions between these compounds and human serum albumin (HSA), the primary carrier of exogenous compounds in the human bloodstream, have not yet been thoroughly characterized. Thus, the present study reports the interaction profile between HSA and TFV, TDF, and TAF via UV-Vis, steady-state, and time-resolved fluorescence techniques combined with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and in silico calculations. A spontaneous interaction in the ground state, which does not perturb the microenvironment close to the Trp-214 residue, is classified as weak. In the case of HSA/TFV and HSA/TDF, the binding is both enthalpically and entropically driven, while for HSA/TAF, the binding is only entropically dominated. The binding constant (Ka) and thermodynamic parameters obtained via ITC assays agree with those obtained using steady-state fluorescence quenching measurements, reinforcing the reliability of the data. The small internal cavity known as site I is probably the main binding pocket for TFV due to the low steric volume of the drug. In contrast, most external sites (II and III) can better accommodate TAF due to the high steric volume of this prodrug. The cross-docking approach corroborated experimental drug-displacement assays, indicating that the binding affinity of TFV and TAF might be impacted by the presence of different compounds bound to albumin. Overall, the weak binding capacity of albumin to TFV, TDF, and TAF is one of the main factors for the low residence time of these antiretrovirals in the human bloodstream; however, positive cooperativity for TAF and TDF was detected in the presence of some drugs, which might improve their residence time (pharmacokinetic profile).

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors prevent liver abscess formation during Escherichia coli bloodstream infection.

The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream is associated with severe clinical outcomes. In mice, intravenous inoculation of Escherichia coli can lead to the formation of macroscopic abscesses in the liver. Abscesses are regions of severe necrosis and consist of millions of bacteria surrounded by inflammatory immune cells. Liver abscess susceptibility varies widely across strains of mice, but the host factors governing this variation are unknown. Here, we profiled hepatic transcriptomes in mice with varying susceptibility to liver abscess formation. We found that transcripts from endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are robustly induced in the liver by E. coli infection and ERV expression positively correlates with the frequency of abscess formation. Hypothesizing that ERV-encoded reverse transcriptase may generate cytoplasmic DNA and heighten inflammatory responses, we tested whether nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) influence abscess formation. Strikingly, a single NRTI dose administered immediately following E. coli inoculation prevented abscess formation, leading to a concomitant 100,000-fold reduction in bacterial burden. We provide evidence that NRTIs inhibit abscess formation by preventing the tissue necrosis that facilitates bacterial replication. Together, our findings suggest that endogenous reverse transcriptases drive inflammatory responses during bacterial bloodstream infection to drive abscess formation. The high efficacy of NRTIs in preventing abscess formation suggests that the consequences of reverse transcription on inflammation should be further examined, particularly in infectious diseases where inflammation drives negative clinical outcomes, such as sepsis.

Bioinspired Pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-8-ones: Ring C-Opened Analogues of Calanolide A: Synthesis and Anti-HIV-1 Evaluation.

We have designed and synthesized a series of bioinspired pyrano[2,3-f]coumarin-based Calanolide A analogs with anti-HIV activity. The design of these new calanolide analogs involved incorporating nitrogen heterocycles or aromatic groups in lieu of ring C, effectively mimicking and preserving their bioactive properties. Three directions for the synthesis were explored: reaction of 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-10-propyl-2H,8H-pyrano[2,3-f]chromen-8-one with (i) 1,2,4-triazines, (ii) sulfonylation followed by Suzuki cross-coupling with (het)aryl boronic acids, and (iii) aminomethylation by Mannich reaction. Antiviral assay of the synthesized compounds showed that compound 4 has moderate activity against HIV-1 on enzymes and poor activity on the cell model. A molecular docking study demonstrates a good correlation between in silico and in vitro HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) activity of the compounds when docked to the nonnucleoside RT inhibitor binding site, and alternative binding modes of the considered analogs of Calanolide A were established.

Influence of Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B-Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway on the Neuropathic Pain Complicated by Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for the Treatment of HIV Infection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the earliest and most commonly used anti-human immunodeficiency virus drugs and play an important role in high active antiretroviral therapy. However, NRTI drug therapy can cause peripheral neuropathic pain. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of rapamycin on the pain sensitization of model mice by in vivo experiments to explore the effect of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain caused by NRTIs.@*Methods@#Male Kun Ming (KM) mice weighing 20-22 g were divided into control, 2 mg/kg rapamycin, 12 mg/kg stavudine, and CMC-Na groups. Drugs were orally administered to mice for 42 consecutive days. The von Frey filament detection and thermal pain tests were conducted on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 after drug administration. After the last behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry and western blotting assay were used for the measurement of mTOR and other biomarkers. Multivariate analysis of variance was used.@*Results@#The beneficial effects of rapamycin on neuropathic pain were attributed to a reduction in mammalian target of rapamycin sensitive complex 1 (mTORC1)-positive cells (70.80 ± 2.41 vs. 112.30 ± 5.66, F = 34.36, P < 0.01) and mTORC1 activity in the mouse spinal cord. Mechanistic studies revealed that Protein Kinase B (Akt)/mTOR signaling pathway blockade with rapamycin prevented the phosphorylation of mTORC1 in stavudine-intoxicated mice (0.72 ± 0.04 vs. 0.86 ± 0.03, F = 4.24, P = 0.045), as well as decreased the expression of phospho-p70S6K (0.47 ± 0.01 vs. 0.68 ± 0.03, F = 6.01, P = 0.022) and phospho-4EBP1 (0.90 ± 0.04 vs. 0.94 ± 0.06, F = 0.28, P = 0.646).@*Conclusions@#Taken together, these results suggest that stavudine elevates the expression and activity of mTORC1 in the spinal cord through activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The data also provide evidence that rapamycin might be useful for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.

Antiangiogenic VEGF165b expression in human breast MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells exposed to reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors / Expresión de VEGF165b antiangiogénico en células MCF-7 y MCF-10A de mama humana expuesto a inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa y la proteasa

The combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), a multidrug combination regimen, usually consisting Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, non- Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors and Protease Inhibitors has altered the morbidity pattern affecting HIV-infected individuals to include non-AIDS-defining malignancies (nADMs). The speculation is rife; does cART induce or promote the progression of nADMs such as breast cancer? This study was therefore designed to investigate of the effects of some antiretroviral drugs (at clinically relevant concentrations) on the expression of anti-angiogenic gene; VEGF165b in two human breast cell lines; MCF-7 and MCF-10A by Real Time qPCR and immuno-fluorescence. All of the antiretroviral drugs and combinations tested produced patterns of slight up or downregulation of VEGF165b mRNA expression but the alterations did not attain statistical significance. They also did not alter VEGF165bprotein localisation in both cell lines. The findings reported here suggest that antiretroviral drugs probably do not influence the angiogenic pathway in the development of breast cancer in patients under the combined antiretroviral regimen.

El tratamiento antirretroviral combinado (TARc), un régimen de combinación de múltiples fármacos, consistiendo generalmente en inhibidores nucleósidos de la transcriptasa reversa, inhibidores no-nucleósidos de la transcriptasa reversa e inhibodres de proteasa que alteran el patrón de mortalidad que afecta a infectados por el VIH incluyendo neoplasias definidas como no HIV (nADMs). La especulación es moneda corriente; TARc induce o promueve la progresión de nADMs como cáncer de mama? Por lo tanto, este estudio se diseñó para investigar los efectos de algunos de los fármacos antirretrovirales (en concentraciones clínicamente relevantes) sobre la expresión del gen anti-angiogénico; VEGF165b en dos líneas celulares de mama humana; MCF-7 y MCF-10A por PCR tiempo real e inmunofluorescencia. Todos los fármacos antirretrovirales y las combinaciones probadas pueden regular en forma ligera hacia arriba o hacia abajo la expresión de ARNm producidos por VEGF165b pero las alteraciones no fueron estadísticamente significativos. Además, no se alteran los niveles de proteína VEGF165b, para la localización en ambas líneas celulares. Los resultados aquí presentados sugieren que los medicamentos antirretrovirales probablemente no influyen en la vía angiogénica en el desarrollo del cáncer de mama en pacientes bajo el régimen antirretroviral combinado.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)resistance-related gene mutations among AIDS patients with antiviral treatment failure in Guangdong province 2015 / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)resistance-related gene mutations among the AIDS patients with virological suppression failure in Guangdong Province 2015.Methods Plasma samples from AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy for more than one year with viral loads > 1000 copies/mL from Guangdong province (except Shenzhen)were collected from January to December 2015.Total 612 HIV-1 gene fragments were amplified from plasma samples using self-developed lab method.Sub-genotypes were determined by phylogenetic tree according to the sequences,NNRTIs resistance-related mutations were determined in Stanford University HIV-1 Drug Resistance Database. The NNRTIs-resistance, the relationships of NNRTIs resistance-related mutations with baseline CD4 +T lymphocyte counts,transmission routes,antiviral regimens and HIV-1 genotypes were analyzed.SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results In 612 patients with virological suppression failure,the main NNRTIs resistance-related mutations were K103 (26.80%),Y181 (14.71 %),V179 (13.73%),G190 (11 .44%) and V106 (10.62%).The susceptibility rate of 310 patients (50.65%)to NNRTIs had changed,the highly resistant rate to nevirapine was 49.51 %,which was higher than that of efavirenz (43.14%),etravirine (5.56%) and rilpivirine (12.25%),respectively,and the differences were statistically significant (χ2 =5.00,296.3 and 198.0,all P 200 cells/μL was lower than that in those with baseline CD4 +T lymphocyte counts <200 cells/μL (χ2 =17.93,P <0.01 );the incidence rate of drug resistance was lower in intravenous drug abusers than that of sexually transmitted patients (χ2 =44.21 ,P <0.01 );while the incidence of drug resistance in patients receiving NVP-containing regimens was higher than that in those receiving EFV-containing regimens (χ2 =8.93,P <0.01 ),and the incidence rate was higher in patients with CRF01 _AE than that in those with CRF07_BC and CRF08 _BC (χ2 =8.46 and 8.47,P <0.01 ).Conclusions The results suggest that compliance education and follow-up should be strengthened in patients with high baseline CD4 +T lymphocyte counts and intravenous drug users,and patients with liver diseases should avoid using drugs containing NVP regimens.

Computational drug design strategies applied to the modelling of human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Reverse transcriptase (RT) is a multifunctional enzyme in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 life cycle and represents a primary target for drug discovery efforts against HIV-1 infection. Two classes of RT inhibitors, the nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and the nonnucleoside transcriptase inhibitors are prominently used in the highly active antiretroviral therapy in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. However, the rapid emergence of drug-resistant viral strains has limited the successful rate of the anti-HIV agents. Computational methods are a significant part of the drug design process and indispensable to study drug resistance. In this review, recent advances in computer-aided drug design for the rational design of new compounds against HIV-1 RT using methods such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics, free energy calculations, quantitative structure-activity relationships, pharmacophore modelling and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity prediction are discussed. Successful applications of these methodologies are also highlighted.

Administração de tenofovir em ratas Wistar durante a gestação: efeitos na prole / Administration of tenofovir during pregnancy in Wistar rats: effects on the offspring

Introdução: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) é um inibidor da transcriptase reversa análogo nucleotídeo que tem sido usado por gestantes para o tratamento da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), bem como para a prevenção da transmissão vertical do vírus. Até o momento, não há estudos experimentais ou em humanos sobre a incidência de alterações renais nos fetos expostos a esquemas contendo TDF. Objetivo: Verificar a ocorrência de alterações renais e sistêmicas fetais causadas pelo uso do TDF durante a gestação. Metodologia: Ratos Wistar fêmeas receberam dieta padrão com ou sem adição de TDF (100mg/Kg de dieta) desde uma semana antes do cruzamento até o parto. A prole proveniente do grupo TDF foi colocada com uma mãe adotiva não tratada durante o período de amamentação e foi comparada com a prole de ratas que receberam dieta padrão durante a gestação (grupo controle). Controle e TDF foram acompanhados até três (n=9 para cada grupo) e seis (n=12 e n=10, respectivamente) meses de idade. Foram avaliados: peso corporal (PC) e pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) mensais, contagem de glomérulos, função renal (através do clearance de inulina), parâmetros bioquímicos (proteinúria, colesterol total, sódio e potássio séricos e urinários), e expressão proteica do tecido renal para componentes do sistema renina angiotensina aldosterona (SRAA) e para transportadores de sódio. Resultados: A prole TDF apresentou menor PC ao nascimento em comparação com o controle. Após o 3º mês, o grupo TDF demonstrou um crescimento compensatório, atingindo o sexto mês com maior PC. O peso renal foi menor no grupo TDF, porém, não houve diferença do número de néfrons entre os grupos. O grupo TDF apresentou alterações estruturais glomerulares. Observou-se também um aumento progressivo da PAS após o segundo mês de idade no grupo TDF. Não houve diferença estatística na função renal entre os grupos. Os níveis plasmáticos de aldosterona foram mais elevados...

Introduction: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarato (TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that has been used in pregnants for treatment of maternal HIV infection and for prevention of vertical transmission. Currently, there are no published studies providing data regarding the occurrence of renal abnormalities in fetuses exposed to TDF-containing regimens. Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of systemic and renal abnormalities in offspring of Wistar rats exposed to TDF during pregnancy. Methods: Female Wistar rats received a standard diet, with or without addition of TDF (100 mg/Kg diet), one week before mating and during pregnancy. Offspring from the TDF group were placed with an untreated foster mother during breastfeeding and compared with offspring from rats maintained on a standard diet during mating and pregnancy (control). Control and TDF were followed up at three and six months of age. Analyzed data: monthly body weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP), glomerular counting, renal function, biochemical parameters, and renal tissue immunoblotting for renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) and renal sodium transporters. Results: TDF offspring showed lower birth weight compared with the control group. After the third month, growth among the TDF group experienced a rapid catch-up. SBP increased progressively after the second month of age in the TDF group. The nephron number did not differ between groups. The TDF group showed glomerular structural changes. There was no significant difference in renal function between the groups studied. Plasma aldosterone was higher in the TDF group, associated with a significant increase in renal expression of RAAS. The TDF rats showed upregulation of renal sodium transporters and consequently lower urinary sodium excretion. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration using an experimental model that maternal exposure to TDF during gestation results in over activation of RAAS, upregulation of renal...

Pharmacokinetics study of the anti-HIV lead compound DAAN-5508 in rats / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a LC-MS/MS method for quantitative analysis of the new anti-HIV candidate DAAN-5508 in rat plasma, and to study its pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in rats. METHODS: The plasma samples were treated with methanol for precipitating proteins. The chromatographic separation was performed with a gradient elution using 0.1% formic acid solution and methanol containing 0.1% formic acid. The flow rate was 0.3 mL · min-1. The MS detection was conducted using an LC-MS/MS in positive ion electrospray and multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode. RESULTS: Good linearity was obtained over the concentration range of 0.2-2500 ng · mL-1 for DAAN-5508 (r2=0.9998), with the lower limit of quantification at 0.2 ng · mL-1. The recovery of DAAN-5508 was greater than 80%. The precision and the accuracy met the requirements for bioanalysis. The method was applied for pharmacokinetics study of DAAN-5508 in rats. After a single iv(5 mg · kg-1) or oral dose (15 mg · kg-1) of DAAN-5508 to rats, the plasma concentration of DAAN-5508 showed a biphasic decline. The elimination half-lives were 2.6 and 4.6 h for intravenous and oral administration, respectively. The absorption of DAAN-5508 was rapid after oral administration. The peak level (188.0 ± 62.33) ng · mL-1 was reached at 1 h. The oral bioavailability was 12%. CONCLUSION: The developed the LC-MS/MS method is selective, sensitive, rapid and simple. It is suitable for the in vivo pharmacokinetics study of DAAN-5508 in rats.

The comparison of the therapeutic impacts on metabolism in hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

To explore and compare the response of the protease inhibitors or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-based therapeutic impact on metabolic indices in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) co-infected patients.A randomized,open,and control approach was performed to enroll 273 cases of HCV/HIV co-infected patients on their initial visits and to choose protease inhibitors(PIs group) or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs group) based therapy treatments for one year.Laboratory results of metabolic indices before and after the treatment were collected.After treatment,the levels of triglyceride in NNRTIs and Pls groups were (1.93 ± 0.99) mmol/L and (1.62 ± 0.93) mmol/L respectively,high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were(1.28 ± 0.55) mmol/L and (1.08 ± 0.53) mmol/L,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were (2.60 ± 1.44) mmol/L and (2.22 ± 1.16) mmol/L,fasting plasma glucose were (5.92 ± 1.21) mmol/L and (4.79 ± 0.47) mmol/L,serum creatinine were (70.5 ± 14.6) μmol/L and (56.6 ± 8.3) μmol/L,and serum amylase were(66.9 ± 27.5) U/L and(62.7 ± 33.8) U/L respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(all P＜0.01).There is a therapeutic impact on metabolic indices in patients wtih HCV / HIV co-infection after non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-based regimen.

Short-term exposure to stavudine results in neuron apoptosis, neurite shrink and down-regulated expression of thymidine kinase 2 / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To investigate the central neurotoxicity induced by nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)-stavudine (D4T).Methods Mouse primary cortical neurons were cultured and treated with different concentrations of stavudine.Neuron apoptosis was analyzed by calcein/acetomethoxy/propidium iodide (AM/PI) staining. Morphological change of neuron was confirmed by immunofluorescence.Mitochondrial DNA copies which were usually evaluated through Cycloxygenase 2 (COX-2) and thymidine kinase2 (TK2) mRNA were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Chi-square test,student t test and Wilcoxon nonparameter test were used to analyze the data.Results Neuronal apoptosis observed in 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group was more significant than that in 0μmol/L D4T treatment group and 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group (51.3％±12.4％ vs 24.9％±8.2％ and 26.5％±10.6％,respectively; x2 =7.25 and 6.93,respectively; both P＜0.01).The average neurite numbers of each neuron were 11.2±3.6 in 0μmol/L D4T treatment group,8.6±2.8 in 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 4.3±2.4 in 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group.The difference was statistically significant between 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 0 μmol/L D4T treatment group (t=4.06,P＜0.01) and between 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group (t =4.35,P＜ 0.01). Furthermore,the average lengths of neuritis were (319.9±100.2) μm in 0 μmol/L D4T treatment group,(298.3±83.9) μm in 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and (258.4±82.2) μm in 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group.The difference was statistically significant between 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 0 μmol/L D4T treatment group (t=4.58,P＜0.01) and between 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group (t=4.65,P＜0.01).TK2 mRNA expression dramatically decreased along with the increasing D4T concentration.The fold changes were 0.34 in 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 0.08 in 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group. The difference was statistically significant between 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 0μmol/L D4T treatment group (Z=- 3.28,P＜0.01) and between 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group (Z=-4.25,P＜0.01).Compared with 0μmol/L D4T treatment group,the relative fold changes of COX-2 copies were 1.01 in 25 μmol/L D4T treatment group and 1.12 in 50 μmol/L D4T treatment group.The differences were not significant among the three groups (Z=0.98 and 1.24,respectively; both P＞0.05).Conclsion It suggests that short-term exposure to D4T may result in neuron apoptosis,neurite shrink and down-regulated expression of TK2,but the level of mitochondrial DNA copies keeps stable.

Efficacy and safety of efavirenz-based regimens in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of efavirenz-based therapy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection. Methods Fiftythree HIV/HCV co-infected patients received efavirenz-based therapy were followed up for 7 years.The changes of CD4+ T lymphocyte count, HIV virus load, hepatic function, hepatic fibrosis index,blood lipid, blood glucose, blood uric acid and blood routine were observed. The comparison of means before and after treatment was performed by t-test. Results The HIV RNA levels at baseline and endpoint were (4. 56±0. 88) lg copy/mL and (1.70±1.10) lg copy/mL, respectively (t=14. 781, P＜0.01). The peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte counts were ( 188.37±151.14)×106/L and (445.18±314.25)×106/L, respectively (t=5.362, P＜0.01).The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were (36.6±16.3) U/L and (57.2±9.9) U/L, respectively (t=7.864, P＜0. 01).The glycocholic acid levels were (444.22±476.74) mg/L and (556.88±733.05) mg/L, respectively (t=0.938, P＜0.05). The Ⅳ-collagen(Ⅳ-C) levels were (45.13±8.25) ng/mL and (47.88±4.51) ng/mL, respectively (t= 2.129, P＜0.05). The riacylglycerol levels were (1.57±0.65)mmol/L and (2.51±1.29) mmol/L, respectively (t=4.737, P＜0.01). The blood uric acid levels were (298.5±48.2) mmol/L and (495.1±89.4) mmol/L, respectively (t= 14.092, P＜0.01).Conclusions The efavirenz-based therapy is efficacious in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, but it could cause liver injury and metabolic disorder.

Nuevos y viejos anti-retrovirales en pediatría: Nuevas dosis, presentaciones y asociaciones / New and “old” antiretroviral drugs in Pediatrics: New doses, formulations and associations

De los 25 anti-retrovirales disponibles en el mercado, sólo 16 están autorizados en la edad pediátrica. Los antiretrovirales, pertenecientes a las tres primeras familias, usados desde hace dos décadas, continúan vigentes y son parte importante de la terapia anti-retroviral en niños naïve. Se describen las dosis, presentaciones y asociaciones actuales de estos fármacos en la edad pediátrica y además se comentan las nuevas co-formulaciones que permitirán disminuir el número de dosis, mejorar la tolerancia y por lo tanto conseguir mejor adherencia de los pacientes pediátricos.

Of the 25 antiretroviral drugs available in the market, only 16 are allowed for prescription in the pediatric patients. The antiretroviral, pertaining to the first three families, used for two decades, remain valid and are important components of antiretroviral therapy in naive children. We describe doses, presentations and current associations for these drugs in children, and also discuss new co-formulations that will reduce the number of doses, improve tolerance and therefore achieve better adherence of pediatric patients.

Study of genotypic resistance mutations of protease and reverse transcriptase in non-therapeutic acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients in Heiiongjiang Province / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To study the presence of drug resistant mutations of protease and reverse transcriptase among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 strains isolated from treatment naive HIV/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in Heilongjiang Province of China and to provide the baseline data for starting antiretroviral therapy in this area. Methods The protease and reverse transcriptase gene sequences were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced. The results were compared to the subtype B consensus amino acid sequence and analyzed with Stanford HIV-db drug resistance sequence interpretation. Results The results showed that HIV strains from 49 patients were classified as subtype B'. No primary mutations associated with protease inhibitor were detected. Some secondary mutations associated with protease inhibitor were detected, which included V77I(91.5%), L63P(76.6%), I93L(74.5%), E35D(61.7%), R57K (19.1%), R41K(10.6%), A71V(8.5%), M36I(8.5%), L10I(6.4%), D60E(6.4%), L89M (4.2%) and G16E(2. 1%). Only one case had a primary mutation M184I that was associated with resistance to reverse transcriptase inhibitors. However, many secondary mutations associated with resistance to reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found, including I135L/T/R/V(81.8%), V106I(22.7%), V179D/E(11.4%), R211K(9.1%), L214F(4.5%), V189I(4.5%) and V108I(2. 3%).Conclusions The prevalence of genotypic anti-HIV drug resistance is very low in treatment naive HIV/AIDS patients in Heilongjiang Province. However, closely monitoring on drug resistance mutation is very important for preventing the development and prevalence of multi-drug resistant or cross drug resistant HIV.