L-2-OXOTHIAZOLIDINE-4-CARBOXYLIC ACID AND GLUTATHIONE IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

The administration of L-2-oxothiazolidin-4-carboxylic acid (OTC) and glutathione (GSH) to modulate total GSH levels was examined in 24 men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 10 healthy HIV-seronegative control subjects. The mean blood GSH concentration in the control subjects was 1.65 +/- 0.287 mumol/ml while that in the HIV-seropositive patients was 0.61 +/- 0.248 mumol/ml. The oral administration of OTC 25 mg/kg and the intramuscular administration of GSH 800 mg/day in the HIV-seropositive subjects markedly increased the total GSH levels. These results suggest that a systemic decrease in GSH levels could be one of the factors involved in the immunodeficiency of HIV-seropositive patients.