Role of apoptotic protease activating factor-1 in CD4+ depletion during HIV progression
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Date
2024-06-20
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Health Sciences, Qassim University Saudi
Abstract
Objective: This study investigates the role of Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor-1
(APAF-1) in CD4+ cell depletion among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
patients.
Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which 105 participants were
enrolled, including 60 confirmed HIV-positive patients and 45 HIV-negative controls.
HIV-positive patients were further divided based on CD4+ cell counts: Group 1 (<200),
Group 2 (200–499), and Group 3 (≥500). An enzyme-linked immunoassay was used
to measure APAF-1 levels, and CD4+ T-cell counts were enumerated using a Cyflow
counter. Independent student’s t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman’s correlation
were utilized as needed.
Results: Results showed significant reductions in lymphocytes, platelets, red blood
cells, hemoglobin, albumin, and CD4+ cell values among HIV-infected individuals
compared to controls. Conversely, APAF-1 and total protein levels were elevated in
HIV-positive patients. Among HIV-positive groups, those with CD4+ cell counts <200
exhibited the highest median serum APAF-1 concentration. However, these differences
were not statistically significant when compared with the other seropositive groups with
CD4+ cell counts between 200 and 499 (P = 0.6726) and CD4+ cell counts of 500 or
greater (P = 0.4325). The control group had the lowest median SAPAF-1 concentration,
significantly different from HIV-positive groups. Positive correlations were observed
between CD4+ counts and lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and hypoalbuminemia, while
negative correlations were found between these parameters and APAF-1 levels.
Conclusion: APAF-1 is a host factor that potentially contributes to CD4+ cell
depletion. Similarly, APAF-1, serum total protein, and albumin levels were found to
be predictive of disease progression and could serve as valuable diagnostic biomarkers
in the monitoring of HIV/AIDS.
Keywords: Apoptotic protease activating factor-1, CD4+ T cell, cytopenia, human
immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hypoalbumin,
progressor