Strong sex bias in elite control of paediatric HIV infection

BACKGROUND: Reports of posttreatment control following antiretroviral therapy (ART) have prompted the question of how common immune control of HIV infection is in the absence of ART. In contrast to adult infection, where elite controllers have been very well characterized and constitute approximately 0.5% of infections, very few data exist to address this question in paediatric infection. METHODS: We describe 11 ART-naive elite controllers from 10 cohorts of HIV-infected children being followed in South Africa, Brazil, Thailand, and Europe. RESULT: All but one of the elite controllers (91%) are females. The median age at which control of viraemia was achieved was 6.5 years. Five of these 11 (46%) children lost control of viraemia at a median age of 12.9 years. Children who maintained control of viraemia had significantly higher absolute CD4þ cell counts in the period of elite control than those who lost viraemic control. On the basis of data available from these cohorts, the prevalence of elite controllers in paediatric infection is estimated to be 5­10-fold lower than in adults. CONCLUSION: Although conclusions are limited by the study design, these data suggest that, whilst paediatric elite control can be achieved, compared with adult elite controllers, this occurs rarely, and takes some years after infection to achieve. Also, loss of immune control arises in a high proportion of children and often relatively rapidly. These findings are consistent with the more potent antiviral immune responses observed in adults and in females

Strong sex bias in elite control of paediatric HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Reports of posttreatment control following antiretroviral therapy (ART) have prompted the question of how common immune control of HIV infection is in the absence of ART. In contrast to adult infection, where elite controllers have been very well characterized and constitute approximately 0.5% of infections, very few data exist to address this question in paediatric infection. METHODS: We describe 11 ART-naive elite controllers from 10 cohorts of HIV-infected children being followed in South Africa, Brazil, Thailand, and Europe. RESULTS: All but one of the elite controllers (91%) are females. The median age at which control of viraemia was achieved was 6.5 years. Five of these 11 (46%) children lost control of viraemia at a median age of 12.9 years. Children who maintained control of viraemia had significantly higher absolute CD4 cell counts in the period of elite control than those who lost viraemic control. On the basis of data available from these cohorts, the prevalence of elite controllers in paediatric infection is estimated to be 5-10-fold lower than in adults. CONCLUSION: Although conclusions are limited by the study design, these data suggest that, whilst paediatric elite control can be achieved, compared with adult elite controllers, this occurs rarely, and takes some years after infection to achieve. Also, loss of immune control arises in a high proportion of children and often relatively rapidly. These findings are consistent with the more potent antiviral immune responses observed in adults and in females.

Discordant Impact of HLA on Viral Replicative Capacity and Disease Progression in Pediatric and Adult HIV Infection.

HLA class I polymorphism has a major influence on adult HIV disease progression. An important mechanism mediating this effect is the impact on viral replicative capacity (VRC) of the escape mutations selected in response to HLA-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses. Factors that contribute to slow progression in pediatric HIV infection are less well understood. We here investigate the relationship between VRC and disease progression in pediatric infection, and the effect of HLA on VRC and on disease outcome in adult and pediatric infection. Studying a South African cohort of >350 ART-naïve, HIV-infected children and their mothers, we first observed that pediatric disease progression is significantly correlated with VRC. As expected, VRCs in mother-child pairs were strongly correlated (p = 0.004). The impact of the protective HLA alleles, HLA-B*57, HLA-B*58:01 and HLA-B*81:01, resulted in significantly lower VRCs in adults (p<0.0001), but not in children. Similarly, in adults, but not in children, VRCs were significantly higher in subjects expressing the disease-susceptible alleles HLA-B*18:01/45:01/58:02 (p = 0.007). Irrespective of the subject, VRCs were strongly correlated with the number of Gag CD8+ T-cell escape mutants driven by HLA-B*57/58:01/81:01 present in each virus (p = 0.0002). In contrast to the impact of VRC common to progression in adults and children, the HLA effects on disease outcome, that are substantial in adults, are small and statistically insignificant in infected children. These data further highlight the important role that VRC plays both in adult and pediatric progression, and demonstrate that HLA-independent factors, yet to be fully defined, are predominantly responsible for pediatric non-progression.

Successful outcome of renal transplantation in a child with HIV-associated nephropathy.

Classical HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) was first described before the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy in late stages of HIV disease with high viral load and low CD4 cell count. Renal transplantation has been successful in a large series of carefully selected HIV-infected adults, with patient and renal allograft survival approaching those of non-HIV-infected patients. We report the successful outcome of living related renal transplantation in a vertically transmitted HIV-infected 8-year-old girl with end-stage kidney disease on haemodialysis due to HIVAN. The pretransplant preparations and post-transplant care, with particular emphasis on immunosuppression and avoidance of opportunistic infections, are discussed.

Gag-specific CD4+ T-cell responses are associated with virological control of paediatric HIV-1 infection.

HIV-specific Elispot responses were investigated in 57 antiretroviral therapy-naive children, of median age 9.9 years. CD8(+) T-cell responses were detected in 96% children; Nef was the immunodominant protein. Responses broadened over time, but there was no association between magnitude, breadth or specificity of response and viraemia. Gag-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses, detectable in 26% children, correlated inversely with viraemia (R = -0.43, P < 0.001), suggesting that preservation of this cell population may be an important goal of therapeutic/vaccine strategies.

Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection and circulating IgD+ memory B cells.

Levels of circulating naive and memory B cells were measured in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children and control subjects to determine whether the irreversible depletion of memory B cells described in HIV-infected adults occurs in children with HIV infection. Depletion of circulating IgD+ memory B cells was seen in HIV-infected children despite control of the HIV load with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (P =. 04). IgD+ memory B cell percentages did not correlate with CD4+ cell percentages (P =. 027) or disease duration (P =. 026). Naive/transitional and IgD- memory B cell numbers were not affected. Pediatric HIV infection is associated with selective depletion of circulating IgD+ memory B cells despite control of the HIV load with HAART.

Mannose-binding lectin in susceptibility and progression of HIV-1 infection in children.

BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL; encoded by MBL-2) is a circulating pattern-recognition molecule that recognizes microbial carbohydrate motifs, leading to complement activation and cell lysis. Mutations in the MBL-2 promoter and of the MBL-2 gene exon 1 result in reduced protein levels and increased susceptibility to infection. We have investigated the effect of MBL-2 polymorphisms on susceptibility and progression of HIV-1 infection in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One-hundred and twenty-eight children, aged 2-16 years were recruited. MBL-2 genotypes were determined by PCR and heteroduplex analyses. Serum MBL levels were measured by ELISA. Comparison of genotypes (A=wild type, O=variant alleles) and protein levels between groups was performed using chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Children were classified according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clinical classification: A, B or C (mildly symptomatic [n=39], moderately symptomatic [n=58] or severely symptomatic AIDS [n=31]) or immune category 1 (n=77), 2 (n=46) or 3 (n=5). Analysis of MBL-2 genotypes with respect to clinical classification yielded minimal differences. However, patients in immunological categories 2 and 3 (<25% CD4+ T cells) were more likely to have MBL-2 variant alleles (P=0.01). We further explored MBL status with respect to disease progression. Only 1/10 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) had an MBL-2 mutation (A/D) with a corresponding protein level of 611 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: MBL deficiency was more frequent in patients with severe disease as assessed by CD4+ T-cell status. MBL-2 variants may be less frequent in children classified as LTNPs. MBL analysis could be useful in identifying children with slow disease progression and, consequently, may not require immediate antiretroviral treatement.

Adherence and acceptability of once daily Lamivudine and abacavir in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infected children.

BACKGROUND: Data on adherence to and acceptability of once daily lamivudine and abacavir are few. METHODS: Twenty-four U.K. human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infected children 2-13 years of age participated in the Pediatric European Network for the Treatment of AIDS (PENTA) 13 single arm, open label pharmacokinetic study of twice (every 12 hours) versus once (every 24 hours) daily lamivudine and abacavir. Caregivers were asked to complete an adherence questionnaire at screening, week 0 (switch once daily to twice daily) and weeks 4, 12 and 24. Acceptability was also assessed at screening and week 24. RESULTS: Fifteen children were taking lamivudine and abacavir as part of their regimens, 8 lamivudine only and 1 abacavir only. After switching to lamivudine/abacavir every 24 hours, 7 (29%) received once daily regimens for all drugs. Twenty-three (96%) caregivers thought that switching to once daily lamivudine/abacavir would make things a lot/a little easier for their child: 17 (71%) thought it was actually easier after switching. Six mothers with children taking a mixture of twice/once daily drugs changed their mind, whereas all mothers of children on once daily regimens agreed that it was a lot easier. Nonadherence (missing doses in the last 3 days) was reported for 8 of 118 (7%) completed questionnaires; missed doses were reported for every drug in the regimen with reasons such as "not at home," "forgot" or "routine different from normal." However, viral loads in all these children remained <100 copies/mL. CONCLUSION: Adherence to once daily abacavir/lamivudine was good with no evidence of an association between nonadherence and virologic rebound. Acceptability of once daily drugs was best when the whole regimen was dosed once daily.

Severe gynecomastia in an African boy with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) slows the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and lowers mortality and morbidity in children. Coincident with these advances, an increasing number of side effects are being reported. We describe an adolescent boy with perinatally acquired HIV infection who developed significant bilateral breast enlargement as a result of HAART. He required bilateral mastectomies. Pediatricians need to be aware of less common side effects of HAART.

Early structural and functional changes of the vasculature in HIV-infected children: impact of disease and antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Premature cardiovascular disease is increasingly recognized in HIV-infected patients, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on markers of early vascular disease in children. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 83 HIV-infected children (56 had taken ART, of whom 31 received a regimen containing protease inhibitors [PIs]; 27 were never treated) and a control group of 59 healthy children. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. IMT was significantly greater in HIV-infected children compared with the control subjects (P<0.001). Among the HIV-infected children, age and treatment were significantly associated with increased IMT. Children exposed to PIs had greater IMT compared with both non-PI-treated children and untreated children (P=0.02). FMD was also significantly reduced in the HIV-infected children compared with control subjects (P=0.02). Pairwise comparisons of different treatment exposure groups revealed that FMD was impaired by a mean of 3.6% (95% CI, 1.8 to 5.3; P<0.001) for children exposed to PIs compared with untreated children and by a mean of 1.8% (95% CI, 0.01 to 3.5; P=0.05) compared with non-PI-treated children. HIV-infected children had lipid abnormalities, but they did not account for the observed differences in either FMD or IMT. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection in childhood is associated with adverse structural and functional vascular changes that are most pronounced in children exposed to PI therapy. Longitudinal studies are required to differentiate the relative impact of HIV disease and ART and to assess the potential for prevention.