EXPERIMENTAL PERINATAL TRANSMISSION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 BY PASSAGE OF INFECTED T-CELLS

Pediatric AIDS typically follows transmission of human immunodeficienc y virus type 1 (HIV-1) from infected mothers to their offspring. The p ossibility that infected maternal-origin cells serve as a conveyance f or mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission was investigated in a rabbit inf ection model. Administration of HIV-1-infected human T cells to pregna nt rabbits was followed by evaluation of offspring, from newborn to 1. 5 years of age. HIV-1 was detected in 11 of 19 vaginally delivered off spring born to mothers given infected cells during gestation. Intersti tial pneumonias or lymphoid organ lesions, similar to those seen in hu man pediatric AIDS, occurred in some offspring. Persistence of inoculu m cell (HLA)-specific gene sequences in offspring indicated that verti cal transmission can be effected by T cell-associated virus. These res ults along with features of rabbit biology, including primate-type pla centation, short gestation, and delivery of litters, suggest that the rabbit model is advantageous for studies of perinatal HIV-1 transmissi on.