Vertical transmission of HIV: Parameters which might affect infection of placental trophoblasts by HIV-1: A review

PROBLEM: To understand the mechanisms preventing and/or facilitating matern ofetal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 across the plac enta during pregnancy. METHODS OF STUDY: Current experimental data were reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The data about the production of cytokines by plac ental cells and explants, taken together with information indicating select ive passage of certain HIV-1 variants across the placental trophoblast, sug gest an intricate regulatory network operating at the fetomaternal interfac e. The data show a differential differentiation of early and late trophobla sts, as far as HIV entry routes are concerned. We believe this explains the relative predominance of the early infection window, as far as in utero in fection is concerned. Whether such a differentiation state can be transient ly induced on term placental trophoblasts by several differentiation agents , including cytokines, is being investigated. Whatever the results may be, it is obvious that infection of placental cells is an excellent model of pa ssage infection by HIV of/through a mucosal barrier.