Determination of dehydroepiandrosterone and its biologically active oxygenated metabolites in human plasma evinces a hormonal imbalance during HIV-TB coinfection.

ABSTRACT: An estimated one third of the world's population is affected by latent tuberculosis (TB), which once active represents a leading cause of death among infectious diseases. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a main predisposing factor to TB reactivation. Individuals HIV-TB co-infected develop a chronic state of inflammation associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. This results in a hormonal imbalance, disturbing the physiological levels of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA and its oxygenated metabolites androstenediol (AED), androstenetriol (AET) and 7-oxo-DHEA are immunomodulatory compounds that may regulate physiopathology in HIV-TB co-infection. In order to study possible changes in plasma levels of these hormones, we developed a

SUBMITTER: Vecchione MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5923237 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature