title: Expression of HLA-G1 at the placental interface of HIV-1 infected pregnant women and vertical transmission of HIV.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ability of Human Leucocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G) to inhibit the cytolytic effect to immunocompetent cell types, suggests that HLA-G has an immunomodulatory role. In view of this concept the objective of the study was to assess whether the Major Histocompatibility Complex -coded molecule HLA-G mRNA is a risk factor at the placental barrier in HIV-1 positive pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental HLA-G1 levels in HIV-1 infected mothers and viral loads in both mothers and their babies were performed on fifty-five participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Synthesis of complementary deoxyribose nucleic acid (cDNA) was performed using ribose nucleic acid (RNA) extracted from placental tissue samples. Amplification of cDNA using specifically designed primers complementary to the full length HLA-G1 isoform was quantified using real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Viral load assays (Amplicor Version 1.5, Roche Diagnostics) were performed on all plasma samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA-G1 primers detected the full length isoform HLA-G1 PCR product at 86.5 °C. Logistic regression calculations indicated that the risk of babies becoming infected increased by 1.3 with every 1 unit increase in HLA-G1 expression. Female babies were 3.7 times more likely to become infected than male. There was a positive correlation between mothers' log viral load and transmission of infection to the baby (p = 0.047; 95%CI 1.029-11.499).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal viral load was a strong predictor of viral transmission. Placental HLA-G1 expression was up-regulated 3.95 times more in placentas of HIV-1 infected mothers with infected babies when compared to uninfected babies.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal 4001, South Africa. shamalamoodley@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moodley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bobat
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012367:RNA, Viral