Both deficient and normal blood levels of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) have been reported in HIV patients, a discrepancy that has been attributed to different methodologies. The goal of this study was to apply our analytical method to this problem. Blood samples from HIV patients and healthy subjects were collected, immediately stabilized, and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with dual electrochemical detection. The results showed that the erythrocytic GSH levels were the same in healthy subjects and in HIV patients regardless of their CD4 lymphocyte level. Only those with the lowest CD4 level plus opportunistic infections had subnormal GSH concentrations (P < 0.001). GSH plus glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels also were normal in patients. However, the Cys contents were higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that HIV patients have normal erythrocytic GSH concentrations and supranormal Cys levels.
LangCA. Macromolecular changes during the life span of the mosquito. J Geront22: 53–57, 1967.
2.
StephanJK, AcreeDW, LangCA. NADP+-linked enzyme levels in young and old mouse tissues. Gerontologist6: 14, 1966.
3.
LangCA, StephanJK. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate enzymes in the mosquito during growth and aging. Biochem J102: 332–336, 1967.
4.
LangCA, AcreeDW. Nicotinamide nucleotide dinucleotide coenzyme levels during then life span of the mosquito. Gerontologist7: 13, 1967.
5.
AbrahamEC, TaylorJF, LangCA. Influence of mouse age and erythrocyte age on glutathione metabolism. Biochem J174: 819–825, 1978.
6.
HazeltonGA, LangCA. Glutathione contents of tissues in the aging mouse. Biochem J188: 25–30, 1980.
7.
HazeltonGA, LangCA. Glutathione levels during the mosquito life span with emphasis on senescence. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med176: 249–256, 1984.
8.
ChenTS, RichieJPJr., LangCA. The effect of aging on glutathione and cysteine levels in different regions of the mouse brain. Proc Soc Biol Exp Med190: 399–402, 1989.
9.
ChenTS, RichieJPJr., LangCA. Life span profiles of glutathione and acetaminophen detoxification. Drug Metab Dispos18: 882–887, 1990.
JuliusM, LangCA, GleibermanL, HarburgE, DiFranceiscoW, SchorkA. Glutathione and morbidity in a community-based sample of elderly. J Clin Epidemiol47: 1021–1026, 1994.
DrögeW, EckH-P, NaherH, PekarU, DanielV. Abnormal amino acid concentrations in the blood of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) may contribute to the immunological defect. Bio Chem Hoppe-Seyler369: 143–148, 1988.
14.
EckH-P, GmunderH, HartmannM, PetzoldtD, DrögeW. Low concentrations of acid-soluble thiol (cysteine) in the blood plasma of HIV-1 infected patients. Biol Chem Hoppe-Seyler370: 101–108, 1989.
RodererM, StaalF, OsadaH, HerzenbergLA, HerzenbergLA. CD4, CD8 T cells with high intracellular glutathione levels are selectively lost as HIV infection progresses (abstract). Int Immunol3: 933–937, 1991.
17.
StaalFJ, ElaFW, RodererM, AndersonMT, HerzenbergLA, HerzenbergLA. Glutathione deficiency and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Lancet339: 909–912, 1992.
18.
HerzenbergLA, De RosaSC, DubsJG, RoedererM, AndersonMT, ElaSW, DeresinskiSC, HerzenbergLA. Glutathione deficiency is associated with impaired survival in HIV patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A94: 1567–1971, 1997.
19.
ScholfieldD, MeiG, BranganzaJM. Some pitfalls in the measurement of blood glutathione. Clin Sci85: 213–218, 1993.
20.
van der VenAJ, MierP, PetersWH, DolstraH, van ErpPE, KoopmansPP, van der MeerJW. Monochlorobimane does not selectively label glutathione in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Anal Biochem217: 41–47, 1994.
21.
PirmohomedM, WilliamsD, TingleMD, BarryM, KhooSH, O'mahonyC, WilkinsEGL, BreckenridgeAM, ParkBK. Intracellular glutathione in the peripheral blood cells of HIV-infected patients: Failure to show a deficiency. AIDS10: 501–507, 1996.
22.
van der VenAJAM, BlomHJ, PetersW, JacobsLEH, VerverTJG, KoopmansPP, DemackerP, van der MeerJWM. Glutathione homeostasis is disturbed in CD4-positive lymphocytes of HIV-seropositive individuals. Eur J Clin Invest28: 187–193, 1998.
23.
MillsBJ, WeissMM, LangCA, LiuMC, ZieglerC. Blood glutathione and cysteine change in cardiovascular diseases. J Clin Lab Med1135: 396–401, 2000.
24.
MillsBJ, LangCA. Differential distribution of free and bound glutathione and cyst(e)ine in human blood. Biochem Pharmacol52: 401–406, 1996.
25.
RichieJPJr., LangCA. The determination of glutathione, cyst(e)ine and other thiols and disulfides in biological samples using high performance liquid chromatography and dual electrochemical detection. Anal Biochem163: 9–15, 1986.
26.
KleinmanWA, RichieJPJr.. Status of glutathione and other thiols and disulfides in human plasma. Biochem Pharmacol60: 19–29, 2000.
27.
MansoorMA, SvardahlAM, UelandPM. Determination of the in vivo redox status of cysteine, cysteinylglycine, homocysteine, and glutathione in human plasma. Anal Biochem200: 218–229, 1992.
28.
AndersonME, MeisterA. Dynamic state of glutathione in blood plasma. J Biol Chem255: 9530–9533, 1980.
29.
MihmSA, GaiterD, DrögeW. Modulation of transcription factor NF kappa B activity by intracellular glutathione levels and by variations of the extracellular cysteine supply. FASEB J9: 246–252, 1995.
