Falasca F, Cavallari EN, Innocenti GP, Scagnolari C, Mezzaroma I, Santinelli L, Ceccarelli G, Vullo V, Turriziani O, d'Ettorre G. Antiviral Activity of Fecal Water Samples from HIV-1 Infected Subjects Treated with a Specific Probiotic Formulation.
Curr HIV Res 2020;
17:183-189. [PMID:
31490760 DOI:
10.2174/1570162x17666190903230622]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to investigate if the supplementation with multistrain probiotics may be able to modulate T cell response in HIV-1 infected patients and to evaluate the anti-HIV activity of probiotic by studying fecal water (FW) samples.
METHODS
Three HIV-1-positive patients (Pt1, Pt2 and Pt3) on long-term suppressive combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) received a specific multi-strain probiotic supplementation (Vivomixx ®), for six months (T6). Levels of T cell subsets were evaluated by flow cytometry. Anti- HIV activity of FW samples was evaluated in vitro.
RESULTS
CD4+ T cells levels increased in all HIV-1 infected patients whereas activation markers (CD38 and HLA-DR) were decreased both on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. FW samples presented an increased inhibitory activity against HIV-1 compared to T0 (FW-Pt1: T0 =40%, T6 = 65% of reduction; FW Pt2: T0 = 26%, T6 = 46% of reduction; FW Pt3: T0 = 47%, T6 = 94% of reduction).
DISCUSSION
Our data suggest that the administration of the specific probiotic formulation improves the antiviral status of people living with HIV-1 under cART, also modulating T cell response.
CONCLUSION
Anti-HIV activity of FW may have several public health and social implications for sexually transmitted diseases that need to be further explored.
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