Catalase Activity of IgG and κκ-IgG, λλ-IgG, and κλ-IgG Subfractions in HIV-Infected Patients and Healthy Donors.

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with pronounced oxidative stress, leading to the development of various virus-associated pathologies. A wealth of evidence suggests that, along with canonical enzymes of reactive oxygen species regulation, human blood contains antibodies with peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities. Here we show that the catalase activity of IgGs and their κκ-IgG, λλ-IgG, and κλ-IgG subfractions of HIV-infected individuals is significantly different compared to the healthy donors.

METHODS

Protein G-Sepharose sorbent was used to resolve IgG from blood of healthy donors and HIV-infected patients by affinity chromatography. Subfractions of κκ-IgG, λλ-IgG, and κλ-IgG were separated from IgGs samples of each group by affinity chromatography on sorbents containing immobilized antibodies to κ or λ light human chains. The IgG catalase activity level was measured spectrophotometrically by evaluating the decrease in optical density (A240) due to hydrogen peroxide decomposition.

RESULTS

The relative catalase activity of antibodies from HIV-infected patients (kcat = (1.41 ± 0.92) × 103 min-1, 95% CI: [1.01-1.81]) was statistically significant, 1.6 times higher (p = 0.014) compared to apparently healthy donors ((0.86 ± 0.49) × 103, 95% CI: [0.69-1.03]). The activity level of κκ-IgG HIV-infected patients ((0.44 ± 0.04) × 103 min-1) was 1.4 times higher than that of λλ-IgGs ((0.31 ± 0.025) × 103 min-1); the opposite was observed for κκ-IgGs from apparently healthy donors, which activity ((0.17 ± 0.015) × 103 min-1) was 3.1 times lower compared to λλ-IgGs ((0.53 ± 0.045) × 103 min-1).

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the data obtained may indicate that IgG with increased catalase activity may prevent harmful processes arising from oxidative stress in HIV-infected patients, acting as an additional natural molecular mechanism of regulation of hydrogen peroxide level.