Journal of Microbial Pathogenesis

Role of regulatory T-cells in mother to child transmission of HIV

Abstract

Peter A Kessler

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 occurs in a minority of HIV-infected mother-infant pairs, even without any interventions. The mechanisms that protect the majority of HIV exposed infants from infection are unclear. T regulatory cells (Treg) have important immunomodulatory functions, but their role in the fetus as well as in mother-to-child transmission of HIV is understudied. Methods: We studied available cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-exposed infants from the breastfeeding, antiretrovirals and nutrition (BAN) study cohort in Malawi: 64 infants were HIV-uninfected and 28 infants were HIV-infected at birth.