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Antibody production in infants born to HIV-1-infected mothers
E Guerra1, C von Hunolstein, I Quinti
1Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Insights
Children born to mothers with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection show varying antibody responses to common pathogens. HIV-1 infection specifically impacts antibody levels against Candida albicans and Neisseria meningitidis in children over 12 months old.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Children born to HIV-1-infected mothers may have altered immune responses.
- Understanding antibody development in these children is crucial for managing infections.
- Naturally occurring antibodies play a key role in defense against common pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze antibody levels against specific polysaccharide antigens in children born to HIV-1-seropositive mothers.
- To compare antibody responses between HIV-1-infected and non-infected children.
- To assess the impact of HIV-1 infection on humoral immunity in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Serially collected sera from children born to seropositive mothers were analyzed.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure antibody levels.
- Antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Candida albicans, and diphtheria toxoid were assessed.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae antibody titers was observed in both HIV-1-infected and non-infected children aged 18 months and older.
- Elevated anti-Candida albicans and anti-Neisseria meningitidis antibody levels were found exclusively in HIV-1-infected children older than 12 months.
- Antibody titers against Haemophilus influenzae type b remained low in both groups, and anti-diphtheria toxoid antibody levels were similar across both groups.
Conclusions:
- HIV-1 infection influences the development of specific antibody responses in children.
- Children with HIV-1 infection exhibit distinct antibody profiles against certain fungal and bacterial pathogens.
- Humoral immune responses to protein antigens, like diphtheria toxoid, appear unaffected by HIV-1 infection in this cohort.
Abstract:
Naturally occurring antibodies to polysaccharide antigens of pathogens commonly isolated from HIV-1-infected subjects were analyzed in serially collected sera of children born to seropositive mothers. Purified polysaccharides from type 14 Streptococcus pneumoniae, group C Neisseria meningitidis, type b Haemophilus influenzae, glucomannoprotein from Candida albicans and diphtheria toxoid antigens were used in an ELISA test to assess antibody levels. A significant rise of anti-pneumococcus antibody titres was noticed both in HIV-1-infected and in non-HIV-1-infected children aged 18 months or more. Anti-C. albicans and anti-group C N. meningitidis antibodies were elevated only in HIV-1-infected children older than 12 months. Anti-type b H. influenzae antibodies remained at low titres in both groups. Anti-diphtheria toxoid antibodies, analyzed as a model of humoral response to a protein antigen, were similar in both groups of HIV-1-infected and noninfected children.