The Effects of Dolutegravir-Art on Mitochondrial Function and Iron Homeostasis in HIV Patients

Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy is the recommended standard treatment plan in many countries globally due to its comparative advantage over previous drugs for managing HIV/AIDS, although safety concerns have been documented. This research assessed iron levels and the mitochondrial dysfunction biomarker, cytochrome c, in patients on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH,Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. A total of 40 treatment-naïve HIV patients with no co morbidities were prospectively recruited for the study, along with apparently healthy, sex- and age-matched individuals as negative controls. Baseline and follow-up specimens were collected and analyzed for cytochrome c using specific immunoenzymatic methods and for total iron using the iron Nitro PAPS chromogen spectrophotometric assay, respectively. The mean pre-treatment values for cytochrome c and iron were 30.91 ± 13.97 ng/ml and 14.54 ± 4.56 µmol/l, respectively. After 6 months of DTG-based ART, the mean values of cytochrome c and total iron increased significantly to 43.31 ± 23.29 ng/ml and 23.54 ± 4.99 µmol/l, respectively. These findings suggest possible iron overload and mitochondrial toxicity effects of DTG-based ART on iron status and mitochondrial health.