Fetal-maternal HLA-A and -B discordance is associated with placental RNase expression and anti-HIV-1 activity.

The incidence of maternal-to-fetal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission is 25-30% in absence of antiretroviral therapy, and is inversely associated with Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class-I discordance. Based on our earlier report that mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) induce a ribonuclease (RNase) that inhibits HIV-1 replication, we proposed that maternal-fetal alloantigen stimulation activates factors that protect the fetus against vertically-transmitted infections. We investigate here whether the degree of mother-infant HLA discordance associates with the ability to produce anti-HIV-1 alloantigen-stimulated factor (ASF), and affects placental RNases.

[Presence of circulating cytomegalic cells in HIV negative immunosuppressed individuals following cytomegalovirus infection].

Objective: Immunofluorenscence methods to detect pp65 antigenemia were implemented for identifying the circulating virus-infected cells in individuals known to have cytomegalovirus infection and disease symptoms.

Material And Methods: Between December-2002 and July-2003, 110 peripheral blood samples were obtained from 46 immunosuppressed patients. pp65 antigenemia and the presence of circulating cells were determined by indirect immunofluorescence using a commercial kit to detect CMV pp65 antigen in peripheral blood leukocytes.