AEGiS-13IAC: HIV-negative infants with HIV-positive mothers have defects in both immunological and hematological functions.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV-negative infants with HIV-positive mothers have defects in both immunological and hematological functions.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoOrB118)

Nielsen SD, Jeppesen DL, Clark DR, Sorensen TU, Valerius NH, Spits H, Nielsen JO
S.D. Nielsen, Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital 144, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark, Tel.: +45 3632 2679, E-mail: sdn@dadlnet.dk

BACKGROUND: The vertical transmission rate of HIV has been dramatically reduced with the use of antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy and delivery. However, although the children are rarely HIV-infected, they have been exposed to viral proteins in utero. This study was designed to evaluate immunological and hematological changes in HIV-negative infants with HIV-positive mothers.

METHODS: Cord blood from 20 HIV-negative infants with HIV-infected mothers and 86 infants with healthy mothers was collected. A full blood count was obtained and flow cytometry was used to determine CD3+, CD4+, CD7+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells and the fraction of naive (CD45+) and memory (CD45RO+) T cells as well as CD34+ progenitor cells. The function of progenitor cells was evaluated in a CFU assay. To examine the ability of progenitors to develop into T cells, fetal thymus organ cultures will be used.

RESULTS: The numbers of CD3+, CD4+, and CD7+ cells were all significantly reduced in infants with HIV+ positive mothers. The decrease in CD4 count was mainly due to a decrease in the number of naive CD4+ cells (435 vs. 900 cells/m l, p>0.01). Differences in CD8+ and CD19+ cells were not found. The number of CD34+ cells was not reduced, however, the in vitro function of progenitors seemed to be lower in infants with HIV-infected mothers (24 vs. 35 CFU/50.000 cells, p>0.10).The in vivo function of progenitors may have been reduced as the concentration of hemoglobin in infants with HIV-positive mothers was reduced (8.2 vs. 9.5 mmol/l, p>0.01) and the white blood count was reduced (10.4 vs. 13.1 x 10E9/l, p>0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: HIV-negative infants with HIV-positive mothers have defects in both immunological and hematological functions. These defects may be due to a decrease in the function of progenitor cells.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Disease Transmission, Vertical, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Mothers, Antigens, CD4, Antigens, CD3, T-Lymphocytes, Thymus Gland, Colony-Forming Units Assay, Infant, Human, Child, In Vitro, Female, Pregnancy, immunology, transmission
000709
MoOrB118