Role of iron in experimental Mycobacterium avium infection

Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients exhibit alte rations in the metabolism of iron that lead to increased deposition of this element in the tissues. Such alterations may underlie an increased suscept ibility of AIDS patients to mycobacterial infections, namely by Mycobacteri um avium. Objectives: The understanding of the role of iron metabolism duri ng M. avium infections in mouse models may allow the design of new therapie s based on the manipulation of iron stores. Study design: In vitro macropha ge cultures and in vivo mouse studies of iron depletion and iron overload a re used to assess mycobacterial multiplication and testing of the efficacy of iron depletion strategies such as the use of iron chelators. Results and conclusions: The levels of iron loading of macrophages in vitro or in vivo affect the growth of M. avium. The currently available iron chelators have poor efficacy in depleting the macrophage iron stores and, therefore, have a poor impact on the infection. Therefore, newer drugs are required that m ay be used in the context of in vivo infections such as in the case of affe cted AIDS patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.