Human Herpesvirus 8 infection may contribute to oxidative stress in diabetes type 2 patients

• Published in: BMC research notes Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 75
• Main Authors: Incani, Alessandra, Marras, Luisa, Serreli, Gabriele, Ingianni, Angela, Pompei, Raffaello, Deiana, Monica, Angius, Fabrizio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.02.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Anopheles; Antibodies; Antioxidants; Antioxidants (Nutrients); Backup software; Biological markers; Biological products; Cholesterol; Complications and side effects; Development and progression; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes therapy; Diabetes type 2; Diabetics; Fatty acids; Herpesvirus infections; Human Herpesvirus 8; Hyperglycemia; Infection; Infections; Insulin resistance; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Malondialdehyde; Metabolism; Oxidation; Oxidation-reduction reactions; Oxidative stress; Research Note; Risk factors; Signal transduction; Tocopherols; Type 2 diabetes; Unsaturated fatty acids; Variance analysis; Vitamin E; Italy; United States > US; Oxidative stress; Human Herpesvirus 8; Diabetes type 2
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-4935-3

To investigate the link between Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection and plasma oxidative stress in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Blood samples collected from DM2 and control subjects were screened for the presence of antibodies against HHV8 and for biomarkers of oxidative stress. We determined the products of radical damage on the plasma lipid fraction, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), fatty acid hydroperoxides (HP) and 7-ketocholesterol (7-keto), the oxidation products of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and cholesterol, respectively. The level of plasma antioxidant α-tocopherol (α-toc) was also assessed. Relevant differences were observed in the redox status in DM2 and either HHV8-positive or -negative control subjects. The level of α-toc significantly decreased in both DM2 and HHV8-positive subjects. Levels of MDA, HP and 7-keto were much higher in HHV8-positive and DM2 subjects, indicating that plasma oxidative stress is a common feature in both DM2 and HHV8-infection. In addition, 7-keto was further increased in HHV8-positive DM2 patients. We hypothesized that the HHV8-infection may contribute to the production of ROS, and hence to the oxidative stress closely related to the pathogenesis and development of DM2.