Linda Chapdeleine Mouafo Mekue, Céline Nguefeu Nkenfou, Marie Nicole Ngoufack, Jules Roger Kuiaté, Jacques Henri Thèze, Vittorio Colizzi and Alexis Ndjolo
Background and context: Dysregulation of the immune system by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has an impact on innate immune components such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs).
Objective: We looked at the plasma concentration of soluble TLR2 and sTLR6 in mother-to-child transmission.
Methods: Two hundred and eighty three mothers with their newborn were recruited. Mothers were classified into five groups: transmitter with prevention (TWP), transmitter without prevention (TWDP), non-transmitter with prevention (NTWP), non-transmitter without prevention (NTWDP) and controls. Mothers’ blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes. Levels of sTLR2/6 were determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. HIV status of new-born was determined using PCR-DNA on dried blood spots.
Results: HIV infected mothers have a statistically higher level of sTLR2 than HIV non-infected mothers (p=0.001). The highest concentration was found in the NTWDP >TWP >NTWP >TWDP. There was a significant difference between all the medians comparing groups two by two. For sTLR6 there was neither a significant difference (p=0.156) between HIV infected and non-infected mothers, nor between groups. The median concentration was higher in NTWDP > NTWP > TWP > TWDP.
Conclusion: sTLR2 and sTLR6 plasma concentration may be associated to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. But antiretroviral treatment could also dim down this protective effect.
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