TITLE:
The Effects of Treatment on Serum Hepcidin and Iron Homeostasis in HIV-1-Infected In-dividuals
AUTHORS:
Joel da Cunha, Luciana Morganti Ferreira Maselli, Jovino dos Santos Ferreira, Celso Spada, Sérgio Paulo Bydlowski
KEYWORDS:
Hepcidin, Iron Homeostasis, HIV-1, HAART, ART-Naïve, CD4+ T-Cells
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.5 No.3,
August
26,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Hepcidin is the principal
regulator of iron absorption and its tissue distribution. Its correlation with
iron homeostasis in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus
type-1 (HIV-1) treated with different regimens of highly active antiretroviral
therapy (HAART) was investigated. Methods: Serum hepcidin levels were
determined in 448 volunteers. Of these, 372 were HIV-1-infected individuals,
and 93 did not receive HAART (ART-naïve) while 279 received HAART consisting of
a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI-based) and protease
inhibitors (PI-based); both were used in association with a nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Seventy-six additional HIV-1 seronegative
individuals were enrolled in the study. The following parameters were
quantified: hematological parameters, iron biomarkers and markers of infection
(CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells), and HIV-1 RNA (viral load). Results: Serum hepcidin,
iron and ferritin levels, as well as the marker of infection, CD4+ T-cells,
were significantly lower in the ART-naïve group compared with other groups.
Additionally, transferrin saturation, iron binding capacity, hemoglobin level
and erythrocyte level were not significantly different, and anemia was not
observed in the different groups. Conclusions: HIV-1 infection affected serum
hepcidin, iron and ferritin levels in the ART-naïve group, and the different
HAART regimens restored the levels of hepcidin and iron homeostasis in
HIV-1-infected individuals who have undetectable HIV-1 RNA levels.