Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Newborns

Differentiation of human embryonal carcinoma cells induces human immunodeficiency virus permissiveness which is stimulated by human cytomegalovirus coinfection

“…Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasingly recognized as a pathogen of the human embryo and fetus (7,9). About 80% of children infected with HIV are infected prenatally or perinatally (11,28,40). Many pregnant women with AIDS are also infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) (41,43), which itself causes fetal damage (44).…”

The epidemiology of HIV infection and AIDS

“…A large proportion of seropositive children has been found to have seropositive mothers, indicating vertical transmission as a major factor, although infected transfusions may be responsible for some cases . In the U.S.A. 80% of children with AIDS are known to have a parent who has AIDS or is at risk and presumed to be HIV positive (C.D.C., 1987a;Katz & Wilfert, 1989;Scott et al, 1985;. 8.51 Novick et al (1989) have reported an overall HIV seroprevalence rate of 0.66% among newborns in New York State (1,816 out of 276,609) in the year from December 1987 to November 1988.…”

Antibody-dependent enhancement of HIV-1 infection in human term syncytiotrophoblast cells culturedin vitro

“…Mother-to-child transmission is clearly an important mode of spread for HIV-1 [1], Although this may occur by several routes, including intrapartum transmission [2] and breast feeding [3], it is currently believed that intrauterine transplacental infection of the fetus in utero is the most important mechanism of vertical transmission [4], Evidence of intrauterjne transmission of HIV-1 includes idenlification of HIV-i DNA sequences in the cord blood or the peripherai blood of babies shortly after birth |5,6] and in fetal lissues [7], The placentai syncytiotrophobiast (ST) forms a continuous, muliinucleated epithelium in direct contact with maternal blood in the intervillous space [8], Thus, a key event in the infection of the placenia and transmission of HIV lo the fetus may be the interaction of blood-borne virus particles with ST. Despite the fact that HIV can enter ST cells [9], the trophoblast is assumed to restrict the rate of virus transmission, because irophoblasl cells exhibit restricted permissiveness for HIV [9.10] and the limited virus shedding is followed by continuous decline in HIV gene activities resulting in sequestration of provirus [II], These fmdings suggest thai multiple cofaclors are likely to be involved in ihc iransplaccntal transmission of the virus.…”

“…Mother-to-child transmission is clearly an important mode of spread for HIV-1 [1], Although this may occur by several routes, including intrapartum transmission [2] and breast feeding [3], it is currently believed that intrauterine transplacental infection of the fetus in utero is the most important mechanism of vertical transmission [4], Evidence of intrauterjne transmission of HIV-1 includes idenlification of HIV-i DNA sequences in the cord blood or the peripherai blood of babies shortly after birth |5,6] and in fetal lissues [7],…”