Document 0751
 DOCN  M9490751
 TI    Carnitine depletion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients
       with AIDS: effect of oral L-carnitine.
 DT    9411
 AU    De Simone C; Famularo G; Tzantzoglou S; Trinchieri V; Moretti S; Sorice
       F; Department of Infectious Diseases, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
 SO    AIDS. 1994 May;8(5):655-60. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94338602
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Reduced levels of serum carnitines
       (3-hydroxy-4-N-trimethyl-ammonio-butanoate) are found in most patients
       treated with zidovudine. However, since serum carnitines do not strictly
       reflect cellular concentrations we examined whether a carnitine
       depletion could be found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
       from AIDS patients with normal serum carnitine levels. In addition, we
       explored whether it was possible to relate the host's immunoreactivity
       to the content of carnitine in PBMC and whether carnitine levels can be
       corrected by oral supplementation of L-carnitine. DESIGN:
       Immunopharmacologic study. METHODS: Twenty male patients with advanced
       AIDS (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage IVCI) and normal
       serum levels of carnitines were enrolled. Patients were randomly
       assigned to receive either L-carnitine (6 g/day) or placebo for 2 weeks.
       At baseline and at the end of the trial, we measured carnitines in both
       sera and PBMC, serum triglycerides, CD4 cell counts, and the frequency
       of cells entering the S and G2-M phases of cell cycle following mitogen
       stimulation. RESULTS: Concentrations of total carnitine in PBMC from
       AIDS patients was lower than in healthy controls. A significant trend
       towards the restoration of appropriate intracellular carnitine levels
       was found in patients treated with high-dose L-carnitine and was
       associated with an increased frequency of S and G2-M cells following
       mitogen stimulation. Furthermore, at the end of the trial we found a
       strong reduction in serum triglycerides in the L-carnitine group
       compared with baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that
       carnitine deficiency occurs in PBMC from patients with advanced AIDS,
       despite normal serum concentrations. The increase in cellular carnitine
       content strongly improved lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness to
       mitogens. Because carnitine status is an important contributing factor
       to immune function in patients with advanced AIDS, we therefore believe
       that L-carnitine supplementation could have a role as a complementary
       therapy for HIV-infected individuals.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*BLOOD  Administration, Oral  Adult
       Carnitine/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/BLOOD/*DEFICIENCY/*THERAPEUTIC  USE
       Cell Cycle  Human  Intracellular Fluid/CHEMISTRY  Leukocyte Count
       Leukocytes, Mononuclear/*CHEMISTRY  Lymphocyte Transformation  Male
       Triglycerides/BLOOD  T4 Lymphocytes  CLINICAL TRIAL  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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