title: Proportions of CD4+, CD8+ and B cell subsets are not affected by exposure to HIV or to Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in Malawian HIV-uninfected but exposed children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a result of successful PMTCT programs, children born from HIV-infected mothers are now effectively protected from contracting the infection. However, it is not well known whether in utero exposure to the virus and the subsequent exposure to Cotrimoxazole (CTX) prophylaxis affect the cell mediated immune system of the children. This observational prospective study was aimed at determining how CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T and B cell subsets varied in HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children at different ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited HEU and HIV-unexposed and uninfected (HUU) children from 6 months of age and followed them up until they were 18 months old. HEU children received daily CTX prophylaxis beginning at 6 weeks of age until when 12 months of age. Venous blood samples were collected 6 monthly and analysed for different subsets of CD8(+) T, B cells and totalCD4(+) T cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months of age, HEU children had a lower percentage of total CD4(+) T cells compared to HUU children and a lower proportion of naïve CD8(+) T cells but higher percentage of effector memory CD8(+) T cells compared to HUU children. HEU and HUU children had similar proportions of all B cell subsets at all ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that the subtle variations in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets observed at 6 months do not last beyond 12 months of age, suggesting that HEU children have a robust cell-mediated immune system during first year of life.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This article report is not based on results of a controlled health-care intervention.
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. herbert.longwe@gmail.com.|Tropical Haematology Research Unit, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. herbert.longwe@gmail.com.
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Longwe
authors: Tropical Haematology Research Unit, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. kamijaphiri@gmail.com.
authors: Kamija S
authors: KS
authors: Phiri
authors: Tropical Haematology Research Unit, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors: Nyanyiwe M
authors: NM
authors: Mbeye
authors: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. thandile_nkosi@yahoo.com.
authors: Thandile
authors: T
authors: Gondwe
authors: Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi. K.Jambo@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors: Kondwani C
authors: KC
authors: Jambo
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. wmandala2002@gmail.com.|Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi. wmandala2002@gmail.com.
authors: Wilson L
authors: WL
authors: Mandala
mesh_terms: D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008295:Malawi; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination