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Immunological study in newborns at risk for HIV-1 infection
G V Martino1, L M Grimaldi, L Moiola
1Università di Milano, Clinica Neurologica IV, IRCSS Ospedale, San Raffaele.
Insights
Oligoclonal bands (OB) in newborns at risk for HIV-1 infection suggest passive transfer from mothers. Their presence indicates a poor prognosis in infants.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Oligoclonal bands (OB) are IgG fragments found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum.
- Their presence can indicate inflammatory or infectious conditions, including those affecting the central nervous system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and origin of oligoclonal bands (OB) in HIV-seropositive mothers and their newborns.
- To assess the prognostic significance of OB in infants at risk for HIV-1 infection.
Main Methods:
- Isoelectric focusing (IEF) was used to detect OB in maternal and neonatal serum and CSF.
- Serial serum samples from newborns were analyzed over 12 months.
Main Results:
- OB were detected in 8/14 maternal sera and 3/3 maternal CSF samples; CSF OB differed from serum OB, suggesting intrathecal synthesis.
- OB were found in the serum of 3/3 newborns at birth, with patterns matching their mothers', indicating passive transfer.
- One of four serially studied newborns developed OB by 12 months of age.
- Two newborns with OB at birth died by 5 months of age.
Conclusions:
- Maternal serum is the source of IgG forming OB in newborns, via passive filtration.
- The presence of OB in infants at risk for HIV-1 infection is associated with an unfavorable prognosis.
Abstract:
We have performed an isoelectric focusing study (IEF) to detect the presence of oligoclonal bands (OB) in serum and in 5 of the correspondent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 14 HIV-seropositive mothers and their newborns. CB were also searched in serum from 4 newborns every 3 months over a period of 12 months. OB were present in 8/14 sera and in 3/3 CSF obtained from the mothers; CSF OB were different from the correspondent serum indicating an intrathecal synthesis. OB were also visualized in serum, but not in CSF, from 3 newborns studied at birth: two of them died respectively at 4 and 5 months of age. One of the 4 newborns that were serially studied showed the appearance of OB at 12 months of age. A comparative study between sera obtained at the moment of delivery from the mother and her newborn showed that oligoclonal banding patterns were superimposable. Our data indicated that: 1) the IgG forming OB in the newborn's serum derive from a passive filtration from mother's serum; 2) the presence of OB seems to be an unfavourable prognostic feature in infants at risk for HIV-1 infection.