Coinfection between human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis: A consideration on ritonavir-related heme Oxygenase-1 pathway

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is an important infection seen worldwide. HIV-infected patients usually have impaired immune function and get infected with other concurrent infections. Tuberculosis is a common concurrent infection in HIV-infected cases. The effect of coinfection and the response to the standard antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients with concurrent tuberculosis infection is interesting. Methods: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of pharmacological pathway of ritonavir on tuberculosis treatment in HIV-infected patients with concurrent tuberculosis infection. The standard network pharmacology analysis is performed. Results: According to the network pharmacology analysis, the identified linkage is heme oxygenase-1. The ritonavir can result in increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 that further possible induces tuberculosis treatment failure in HIV-infected patients with concurrent tuberculosis infection. Conclusion: Ritonavir-related heme oxygenase-1 pathway is an important pathway that might affect the treatment of tuberculosis. Ritonavir dosage adjustment for tuberculosis treatment in HIV-infected patients with concurrent tuberculosis infection is necessary.

Keywords

• Heme oxygenase-1
• human immunodeficiency virus
• ritonavir
• tuberculosis