Abstract
An increased risk of serious bacterial infections in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants has been demonstrated. Although neutrophils are essential for the protection of infants against bacterial infections, no study has investigated their profile in HEU infants to date. In this study, we assessed the function of neutrophils in HEU infants using the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test. Among 25 HEU infants, 9 (36%) showed a reduced ability of their neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species upon stimulation with bacteria. No alteration of total neutrophil counts was noted in the blood of HEU infants indicating that the alteration observed in the 36% of HEU infants may only be functional. Conclusively, impaired neutrophil function could be a factor of vulnerability in HEU infants.
Highlights
The implementation of mother-to-child transmission prevention programs worldwide is arguably one of the major public health successes of the present century
Understanding their immune system is crucial to develop new approaches to fight and prevent diseases and improve their health. Because in their early life, infants depend mainly on their innate immune system for protection against infections, we studied HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants’ neutrophils function
This study focused in HEU infants as the HU infants are not follow-up in our study site
Summary
The implementation of mother-to-child transmission prevention programs worldwide is arguably one of the major public health successes of the present century. Mother-to-child transmission prevention programs have dramatically reduced the mother-to-child transmission rate, HEU infants are still more vulnerable to infections when compared to HIV-unexposed (HU) infants from HIV-uninfected mothers. This was robustly demonstrated in a study conducted in Zimbabwe between 1987 and 2000, where more than 14,000 participants were enrolled [5]. Morbidity and mortality were at their peak levels in the 3–6 months old children, and the majority of the deaths were associated to lower respiratory tract infections This seminal observation has been supported by several other studies in Africa that have independently
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