A Mother-to-Child Transmission Study in Nigeria: The Impact of Maternal HIV Infection and HAART on Plasma Immunoglobulins,Cytokine Profiles and Infant Outcome

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HARRT) allows the HIV+pregnant mothers to have vaginal delivery and breastfeed.Here we investigated the maternal plasma immunoglobulin,cytokine secretion and the outcome of the exposed infants among the HIV+HAART treated pregnan women in Nigeria.In this study,different plasma immunoglobulins and cytokines were measured in the HIV+HAART treated pregnant mothers.Pooled culture supernatants of B and T lymphocytes showed lower levels of IFN-γ,IL-10 and IL-4.There were lower IFN-γ and IL-10 secretions at 1st trimester;however,IL-10 continued to be lower throughout 2nd and 3rd trimesters.TNF-α secretion significantly decreased as pregnancy progressed to term.There were high plasma IgG and low IgM in the HIV+HAART treated pregnant women.Plasma IgG was high during 1st and 3rd trimesters.After one year of follow up,all the exposed children were seronegative for HIV-1 and HIV-2.Vaginal delivery and breastfeeding among HIV+HAART treated mothers have shown to be safe.The use of HAART by the infected mothers and the use of septrin and niverapin by the exposed infants prevented mother to-child transmission of HIV.