Nucleoside and Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Induce Aging By Inhibiting Telomerase Function - Nucleoside and Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Induce Aging By Inhibiting Telomerase Function - Open Access Pub

The telomeres existing at the end of the eukaryotic chromosome, play an important role in localization, pairing of homologous chromosomes during cell division and synapsis formation, while telomerase is involved in maintenance of the telomere length. The application of antiHIV-1 molecules particularly NRTIs have been shown to interfere with telomerase function thereby inducing aging processes. Since the application of these molecules has already indicated production of oxidative stress and toxicity in AIDS patients, their adverse impact on telomerase function may further worsen the situation. In addition, the negative influence of antiHIV-1 regimens on certain host factors involved in telomerase function may enhance aging. HAART changes the landscape of the disease by progressively decreasing the progression of HIV-1, but exerts prolonged adverse effects on the telomerase function. Though there is no exact information available on this issue, intensive efforts are needed to explore regulation of telomerase expression in HIV infected individuals and particularly those receiving antiretrovirals. DOI10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-19-3070 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1) belongs to the retroviridae family and to the Lentivirus genus. It is the etiologic agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) that targets the CD4 + T-lymphocyte cells of the human immune system 1. The number of CD4 + T-lymphocyte cells in healthy males and females is reported to be 1200/ul and 1000/ul, respectively. The rapid destruction of these cells due to HIV-1 infection makes the infected individual immune-compromised and prone to several opportunistic infections. The number of CD4+ T-lymphocyte cells <200/μl or lower than this is considered According to an estimate of UNAIDS, there were approximately 33 million people worldwide living with HIV-1 and an emerging newly infected 2.7 million individuals 2. India inhabits 2.1 million HIV-1 infected people equivalent to the third largest population in the world living with HIV-1. According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), there are two high risk groups of HIV-1 infected individuals, which include sex workers (SW) and those men who do sex with men (MSM). The antiretrovirals approved by FDA-USA being prescribed to the doctors to treat the HIV infected individuals are over two dozen in number. They have been categorised in six groups as they act on different specific targets in different manners so as to block a specific stage in the life cycle of HIV-1. Depending on the condition of the disease, the