SUPPRESSION OF TISSUE-LEVELS OF VITAMIN-A, VITAMIN-E, ZINC AND COPPERIN MURINE AIDS

Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with LP-BM5 retrovirus, causing muri ne acquired immune deficiency syndrome (MAIDS) which is functionally s imilar to human AIDS. Because human immunodeficiency virus may comprom ise nutritional status and nutritional disorders have been found in AI DS patients, the influence of murine retrovirus infection on levels of important immune-related nutrients (vitamin A, E, zinc and copper) in the serum, liver, small intestine, spleen and thymus was determined i n MAIDS. The levels of vitamin A, E and copper in the liver in MAIDS w ere significantly reduced compared to controls, whereas the level of z inc in the liver was not affected. Intestinal level of vitamin A was s ignificantly reduced by retrovirus infection, whereas copper level in the small intestine was significantly increased compared to controls. Intestinal levels of zinc and vitamin E were not affected. The levels of vitamin A, E and zinc in the spleen in murine AIDS were significant ly rebated compared to controls, whereas the splenic level of copper w as not influenced. The levels of vitamin A, E and copper in the thymus in MAIDS were significantly lessened by retrovirus infection compared to controls, whereas thymic level of zinc was significantly elevated. The levels of vitamin A and E in the serum in MAIDS were significantl y decreased by retrovirus infection compared to controls. The data ind icated that retrovirus infection can directly cause malnutrition, poss ible via damaging gastrointestinal cells, thereby leading to malabsorp tion. Such malnutrition has the theoretical potential to accelerate de velopment of AIDS via immunosuppression secondary to nutritional defic iency.