Release of Hydrogen Peroxide from Human T Cell Lines and Normal Lymphocytes Co-Infected with Hiv-1 and Mycoplasma

Abstract

Human T-cell lines and normal lymphocytes persistently or acutely co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and mycoplasmas were found to release hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a likely cause of oxidative stress in these cells. The spectrofluorometric measurement of H2O2 release from these cells, using the scopoletin fluorescence quenching technique, gave values of 16-84 p moles/10⁶ cells/min. In CEM cells, H₂O₂ was released only when acutely co-infected with HIV-1 and mycoplasmas, and not when infected with either organism alone. Anti-mycoplasmal antibiotics strongly reduced H₂O₂ release, and improved cell viability without blocking virus replication. These results suggest that the simultaneous infection by HIV-I and mycoplasma leads to the release of H₂O₂, a toxic and potentially lethal metabolite, which in vivo may contribute to HIV-1 pathogenicity.

Key Words:

• human immunodeficiency virus type 1
• mycoplasma
• H₂O₂ release
• cytopathicity
• co-infection