Oxidative DNA base damage in lymphocytes of HIV-infected drug users

In the present study, we have studied the level of oxidative DNA base damag e in lymphocytes of HIV-infected intravenous drug users (IDUs) and a serone gative control group. Chromatin was isolated from the lymphocytes and then analyzed by gas chromatography/isotope-dilution mass spectrometry with sele cted-ion monitoring (GC/IDMS-SIM). Significantly greater levels of four oxi datively modified DNA bases were observed in chromatin samples from the sym ptomatic HIV-infected patients than in those from the seronegative patients . These were 5-hydroxyuracil, 5-hydroxycytosine, 8-hydroxyadenine and 8-hyd roxyguanine. In the case of 5-hydroxyuracil and 8-hydroxyguanine, a statist ically significant difference was also found between the control group and the asymptomatic HIV-positive patients. These results suggest that oxidativ e stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and that administration of antioxidant drugs to HIV-infected patients may offer protection against AIDS-related carcinogen esis.