Leukocyte Telomere Length at Birth and During the Early Life of Children Exposed to but Uninfected With HIV After In Utero Exposure to Antiretrovirals

Abstract

Our results indicate that from birth to 3 years of age, the LTL in HEU children is not negatively affected by exposure to maternal HIV infection and cART, at least not to the regimens used within this Canadian cohort, a reassuring finding.

Biomarkers of Aging in HIV-Infected Children on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy

“…It is possible that longer ART duration may restore telomere length differences, but further follow-up is needed. [14, 15] Two other studies reporting on HEU and HUU children but not HIV-infected children at birth did not find evidence of shorter telomere length in HEU children compared to HUU children; [41, 42] our study reports on children at a mean age of 6.4 years and in a different setting.…”

Biological Aging and Immune Senescence in Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV

“…Ajaykumar et al [191] 306 HUU Figure 2A of Paghera et al [194]. 7 Journal of Immunology Research 5.2.…”

“…However, in the HIV-positive group, higher viral load was associated with shortening of telomeres. To investigate the impact of NRTIs on children's telomeres, a study was conducted on 114 HEU infants exposed to ZDV prophylaxis [191]; their telomeres at birth were similar to those of HUU controls, and no association was found between telomere length and maternal ART regimen. Among the 114 HEU children, those exposed to maternal ZDV+lamivudine+nelfinavir/nevirapine regimen had longer telomeres at birth.…”

Longitudinal Follow-Up of Blood Telomere Length in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Children Having Received One Year of Lopinavir/Ritonavir or Lamivudine as Prophylaxis

“…The impact of ARV exposure on telomere length was also addressed in CHEU in cross-sectional studies at different time points. Most of them described similar telomere length at birth between CHUU and CHEU who have been exposed in utero to zidovudine (AZT) [ 30 ], to the backbone AZT plus lamivudine (3TC) in combination with nevirapine (NVP), nelfinavir (NFV), or ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI) [ 31 , 32 ] or to other triple combination including abacavir (ABC), tenofovir disoproxyl fumarate (TDF) or emtricitabine (FTC) [ 31 , 32 ]. Later in childhood, at approximately two years of age, CHEU exposed in utero to AZT/3TC/NVP [ 28 ], AZT/3TC/PI [ 28 , 29 ], or TDF/FTC/PI [ 28 ] also presented similar telomere length when compared to CHUU.…”

“…Later in childhood, at approximately two years of age, CHEU exposed in utero to AZT/3TC/NVP [ 28 ], AZT/3TC/PI [ 28 , 29 ], or TDF/FTC/PI [ 28 ] also presented similar telomere length when compared to CHUU. Some of these children also received short term (6-week) postnatal prophylaxis including AZT [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 32 ], AZT/3TC or AZT or ABC/FTC/NFV [ 29 ]. However, one study reported shorter telomere length in CHEU at six years of age that had been exposed in utero to 3TC plus lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based regimens including ABC, AZT, or stavudine, compared to CHUU [ 33 ].…”