Biological markers associated with prolonged survival in African children maternally infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
Sixteen children over the age of 5 years (Group 1) have been identified out of 537 children infected by human immunodeficiency virus and born to HIV-infected mothers, in Kigali, Rwanda. They were followed up for 2 years and compared with 16 younger AIDS patients (Group 2) and with 16 age- and gender-matched HIV-1 seronegative children (Group 3). Fourteen Group 1 subjects had anti-HIV-1 IgM which persisted during the entire study period, in 11 cases directed to HIV-1 envelope proteins. In vitro, immortalization of B lymphocytes by the Epstein-Barr virus confirmed a high production of IgM to envelope proteins. All these patients had anti-p 17 IgG which was not observed in 7 patients from Group 2. All 16 children mounted significant titers of neutralizing antibodies to HTLV-IIIB, and, in 8 patients tested, against two other HIV-1 strains, RII and MN. HIV-1-specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxic T cells were demonstrated in 3 of 5 of the subgroup who were tested. Prolonged survival over 5 years in children with maternally acquired HIV-1 infection is associated with a high titer of neutralizing antibodies, a persistent production of IGM to HIV-1 envelope proteins and of IgG to p 17.
Van de Peere
P
P
Reference Laboratory, National AIDS Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda.
Lepage
P
P
Simonon
A
A
Desgranges
C
C
Hitimana
D G
DG
Bazubagira
A
A
Van Goethem
C
C
Kleinschmidt
A
A
Bex
F
F
Broliden
K
K
D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D015415:Biomarkers; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies