In a mouse study, it was shown that the mitochondrial antioxidant MitoQ, which is sold as a dietary supplement, can counteract the negative effects that HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have on the mitochondria in the brain, heart, aorta, lungs, kidney, and liver.
The ratio of nuclear DNA (ntDNA) to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in humans and mice was calculated using a molecular technique as a marker of mitochondrial dysfunction.
Reduction in this ratio reflects mitochondrial dysfunction. HIV-infected mice receiving ART showed mitochondrial dysfunction in the human immune cells in the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and gut compared to uninfected mice.
ART itself also affected mitochondrial function in mouse heart cells. When treated with MitoQ for 90 days, HIV infected mice had reduced mitochondrial dysfunction in organs compared to HIV infected mice on ART.
The major cellular components known as mitochondria are crucial for the efficient operation of organs like the brain, heart, liver, and kidney. Chronic immunological dysfunction and inflammation brought on by HIV contribute to organ damage.
Our findings support clinical trials of MitoQ in people with HIV who take antiretrovirals to determine whether it can be a potential treatment for comorbidities associated with chronic HIV infection. Until then people with HIV should not take this diet supplement for treatment of any conditions associated with HIV infection.
Dr. Theodoros Kelesidis
Although the causes of this are unknown, it is known that mitochondrial dysfunction, which is present in chronic HIV, contributes to organ damage. HIV-related illnesses that impact organs like the liver, heart, and brain do not have any treatments available.
Humanized mice were utilized by the researchers because they have human immune cells that are susceptible to HIV infection. They gave them the virus, treated them with ART using emtricitabine, raltegravir, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and then gave them MitoQ through their water for three months. The control mice were not given MitoQ.
The researchers note that humanized mice do not exactly recreate HIV infection in humans. Furthermore, because the infected mice were exposed to both the virus and the ART, it was impossible to determine how much, exactly, the virus vs the ART contributed to mitochondrial dysfunction in human cells.
These preliminary results might be the basis for HIV-positive human clinical trials.
“MitoQ is a diet supplement that is known to be safe in humans and is readily available for use,” said senior author Dr. Theodoros Kelesidis, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
“Our findings support clinical trials of MitoQ in people with HIV who take antiretrovirals to determine whether it can be a potential treatment for comorbidities associated with chronic HIV infection. Until then people with HIV should not take this diet supplement for treatment of any conditions associated with HIV infection.”
