Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2025
Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
Published on: September 6, 2019
Length of Leukocyte Telomeres in Newborns of HIV-Infected Mothers
N A Kurashova1, A S Vanyarkina2, A G Petrova2
1Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Irkutsk, Russia. nakurashova@yandex.ru.
We studied the relative length of telomeres in newborns with unrealized perinatal transmission of HIV (zero viral load according to PCR results). A cross-sectional survey of 62 newborns of HIV-infected mothers (Apgar score 8); the control group consisted of 80 healthy newborns (Apgar score 8). DNA extracted from whole venous blood samples was analyzed. In newborns of HIV-infected mothers, the relative length of telomeres was significantly lower (0.69 (0.66; 0.72)) than in newborns of the control group (1.1 (0.97; 1.22)) (p<0.001). No significant differences in the relative length of telomeres were found between newborns of mothers with a viral load at the time of delivery and with undetectable viral load: 0.69 (0.66; 0.73) and 0.69 (0.63; 0.72). These findings indicate that HIV-infection in mothers or exposure to antiretroviral therapy has an impact on the relative telomere length in leukocytes of newborns.
We studied the relative length of telomeres in newborns with unrealized perinatal transmission of HIV (zero viral load according to PCR results). A cross-sectional survey of 62 newborns of HIV-infected mothers (Apgar score 8); the control group consisted of 80 healthy newborns (Apgar score 8). DNA extracted from whole venous blood samples was analyzed. In newborns of HIV-infected mothers, the relative length of telomeres was significantly lower (0.69 (0.66; 0.72)) than in newborns of the control group (1.1 (0.97; 1.22)) (p<0.001). No significant differences in the relative length of telomeres were found between newborns of mothers with a viral load at the time of delivery and with undetectable viral load: 0.69 (0.66; 0.73) and 0.69 (0.63; 0.72). These findings indicate that HIV-infection in mothers or exposure to antiretroviral therapy has an impact on the relative telomere length in leukocytes of newborns.
Related Concept Videos
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
01:29Replication in Eukaryotes
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...