Differential expression of human beta defensins in placenta and detection of allelic variants in the DEFB1 gene from HIV-1 positive mothers

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Low infection rates in neonates born to HIV-1-seropositive mothers highlight the existence of natural defense mechanisms in the maternal-fetal interface. Human beta defensins (HBDs) inhibit HIV-1 replication in vitro and their variants are associated with HIV-1 resistance/susceptibility. Objective: Levels of HBD mRNA expression in placentas were obtained from seropositive and healthy mothers to determine whether HIV-1 infection induces anti-viral factors. Materials and methods. HBD-1, -2 and -3 transcripts were quantified by real time RT-PCR, and A692G/G1654A/A1836G variants in the DEFB1 gene were evaluated by sequencing. Results: Transcript levels of HBD-1 were significantly higher, and those of HBD-3 were lower in placenta from seropositive mothers compared to controls. Additionally, simultaneous presence of the A692G A/G and A1836G G/G genotypes was associated with high expression of HBD-1 in all populations and the A692G variant in babies born to seropositive mothers was in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. Conclusion: Contrasting results in levels of HBDs were probably due to viral stimuli and suggest that HIV-1 induce a differential expression of HBDs in placenta and these proteins could be involved in protecting against HIV-1 at least early in pregnancy. However, it was not possible to associate these findings directly with protection against HIV-1 vertical transmission since none of the newborn infants became infected.

• Autores: Aguilar Jiménez, Wbeimar; Zapata Builes, Wildeman; Rugeles López, María Teresa
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2011
• Institución: Universidad de Antioquia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UdeA
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:bibliotecadigital.udea.edu.co:10495/36575
• Acceso en línea: https://hdl.handle.net/10495/36575
• Palabra clave: VIH-1; HIV-1; Transmisión Vertical de Enfermedad Infecciosa; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Antiinfecciosos; Anti-Infective Agents; Placenta; Polimorfismo Genético; Polymorphism, Genetic; Genotipo; Genotype; Recién Nacido; Infant, Newborn; Transmisión de Enfermedad Infecciosa; Disease Transmission, Infectious
• Rights: openAccess
• License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/