Lack of mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission is associated with elevated serum levels of 90 K immune modulatory protein

Background: 90 K is a secreted human serum glycoprotein with immune modulat ory activity. Methods: Serum 90 K levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorben t assay in 19 HIV-l-infected mothers at the time of delivery, in their new- borns (11 HIV-1 infected and eight uninfected), in 26 HIV-1-uninfected moth ers and in 86 new-borns of HIV-1-uninfected mothers. Results: 90 K levels in HIV-l-infected transmissive mothers (22.4 +/- 13.9 mu g/ml) were similar to Those of HIV-1-uninfected mothers (21.1 +/- 7.6 mu g/ml; P = 0.715), but lower than those of HIV-1-infected non-transmissive mothers (45.5 +/- 24.8 mu g/ml; P = 0.019). The levels were higher in HIV-1 -uninfected (47.6 +/- 22.4 mg/ml) than HIV 1-infected (23.7 +/- 15.6 mu g/m l; P = 0.014) new-borns of HIV-1-infected mothers. The new-borns of HIV-1-u ninfected mothers had lower levels (11.7 +/- 5.3 mu g/ml) than both HIV-l-i nfected and HIV-1-uninfected new-horns of HIV-l-infected mothers (all diffe rences, P < 0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that high 90 K protein serum levels in HI V-1-infected mothers and their new-borns are associated with lack of mother -to-child HIV-1 transmission. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.