Human leukocyte antigen concordance and the transmission risk via breast-feeding of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We examined the association between mother-to-child human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) transmission and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I types.

METHODS:

In 1989, children born to HTLV-I-infected mothers in Jamaica were enrolled and prospectively evaluated for HTLV-I infection. HLA class I types in mothers and children were determined by DNA-based polymerase chain reaction methods. Associations between HLA class I types and transmission of HTLV-I were analyzed using proportional-hazards regression models adjusted for the duration of breast-feeding. Transmission risk in children still breast-feeding at 12 months was determined using actuarial methods.

RESULTS:

Of 162 children, 28 (17%) became infected. After Bonferroni's adjustment for multiple comparisons, the transmission risk was not influenced by any specific HLA class type or the A2 supertype. However, compared with children who shared 3 HLA class I types with their mothers (the minimum number possible), the transmission risk increased 1.8-fold with 4 shared types and 3.0-fold with 5 or 6 shared types (Ptrend = .039; 1.75-fold increase for each additional concordant HLA type). This association was independent of maternal HTLV-I proviral level, antibody titer, and household income.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found a significant dose-response relationship between HTLV-I transmission via breast-feeding and mother-child HLA class I type concordance. Immunological interactions between a child's cells and maternal cells may influence the risk of HTLV-I infection by breast-feeding, perhaps because antigens on maternal cells are seen by the child as being "self."

• Authors: Robert J Biggar, Jennifer Ng, Norma Kim, Michie Hisada, Hong-Chuan Li, Beverley Cranston, Barrie Hanchard, Elizabeth M Maloney
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 193 Issue 2 Pg. 277-82 (Jan 15 2006) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16362892 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• HTLV-I Antibodies

Topics

• Breast Feeding
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Genes, MHC Class I
• HTLV-I Antibodies (blood)
• HTLV-I Infections (genetics, immunology, transmission)
• Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
• Jamaica
• Proviruses (isolation & purification)
• Risk Factors
• Socioeconomic Factors