Correlation of virus load and soluble L-selectin, a marker of immune activation, in pediatric HIV-1 infection

Abstract

These results suggest that higher immune activation in children contributes to higher viral loads, and that the level of pre-existent immune activation may have a role in determining which infants have detectable virus in peripheral blood at birth.

Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Neonatal Macaques

“…Children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often have higher viral loads and a more rapid progression to AIDS than adults (2,5,11,12,28,35,44). Approximately one-third of untreated HIV-infected children develop severe symptoms in the first 2 years of life, and at least 20% die within the first 4 years of infection (20,25,35,44,45).…”

“…The reasons for the enhanced progression to disease and sustained viral loads are not known but are generally attributed to the immaturity of the immune system. However, many children demonstrate active cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV infection, indicating that the neonatal immune system is fully capable of mounting an immune response (11,24,42). Evidence suggests that an increased level of cellular activation may be associated with the high viral loads and rapid disease progression in the pediatric patient (11).…”

“…However, many children demonstrate active cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV infection, indicating that the neonatal immune system is fully capable of mounting an immune response (11,24,42). Evidence suggests that an increased level of cellular activation may be associated with the high viral loads and rapid disease progression in the pediatric patient (11). Levels of soluble L-selectin (CD62L) have been shown to be higher in neonates than adults (11).…”

“…Evidence suggests that an increased level of cellular activation may be associated with the high viral loads and rapid disease progression in the pediatric patient (11). Levels of soluble L-selectin (CD62L) have been shown to be higher in neonates than adults (11). Since L-selectin is present on naive cells yet rapidly shed upon lymphocyte activation, this suggests that neonates have a higher level of basal lymphocyte activation (11).…”

“…Levels of soluble L-selectin (CD62L) have been shown to be higher in neonates than adults (11). Since L-selectin is present on naive cells yet rapidly shed upon lymphocyte activation, this suggests that neonates have a higher level of basal lymphocyte activation (11). Furthermore, levels of soluble L-selectin were shown to be higher in HIV-infected neonates than in uninfected children (11).…”