Increased Expression on Innate Immune Factors in Placentas From HIV-Infected Mothers Concurs With Dampened Systemic Immune Activation

Author(s)

Pereira, Natalli Zanete ^{[1, 2]} ; Branco, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo ^{[3, 1]} ; Manfrere, Kelly Cristina Gomes ^[1] ; de Lima, Josenilson Feitosa ^[1] ; Yoshikawa, Fabio Seiti Yamada ^{[1, 4]} ; Milanez, Helaine Maria Besteti Pires Mayer ^[5] ; Pereira, Naiura Vieira ^[2] ; Sotto, Miriam Nacagami ^[2] ; Duarte, Alberto Jose da Silva ^[1] ; Sato, Maria Notomi ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Invest Dermatol & Imunodeficiencias LIM56, Inst Med Trop, Fac Med, FMUSP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, FMUSP, Fac Med, Dept Dermatol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Chiba Univ, Div Mol Immunol, Med Mycol Res Ctr, Chiba - Japan

^[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Tocoginecol, Campinas - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY; v. 11, AUG 25 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Innate immunity is one of the main protection mechanisms against viral infections, but how this system works at the maternal-fetal interface, especially during HIV infection, is still poorly known. In this study, we investigated the relationship between pregnancy and innate mechanisms associated with HIV immunity by evaluating the expression of DAMPs, inflammasome components and type I/III IFNs in placenta and serum samples from HIV-infected mothers and exposed newborns. Our results showed that most of these factors, including HMGB1, IL-1, and IFN, were increased in placental villi from HIV-infected mothers. Curiously, however, these factors were simultaneously repressed in serum from HIV-infected mothers and their exposed newborns, suggesting that pregnancy could restrict HIV immune activation systemically but preserve the immune response at the placental level. An effective local antiviral status associated with a suppressed inflammatory environment can balance the maternal immune response, promoting homeostasis for fetal development and protection against HIV infection in neonates. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/21364-8 - Expression of antiviral factors and endogenous retroviruses constitutive and induced by agonists of toll-like receptors in HIV-1 infected mothers and newborns
• Grantee: Nátalli Zanete Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/18837-1 - Expression of antiviral factors and endogenous retroviruses in HIV-1 infected mothers and newborns
• Grantee: Maria Notomi Sato
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants