LAUSR

The pro-inflammatory (Th1) cytokines namely IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α are vital in the clearance of HIV infection. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the polymorphisms of Th1 cytokine genes and their corresponding plasma cytokine levels in HIV-1 positive and exposed uninfected (EU) infants born to HIV-1 positive mothers. CD4 count, viral load of HIV-1 positive mothers was done using commercially available reagents. Cytokine genotyping analysis and levels was done in 20 HIV-1 positive and 54 EU infants. The polymorphisms of Th1 cytokines were done using PCR-SSP method. Plasma cytokine levels estimated using Bio-Plex-Pro cytokine assay (BIO-RAD; USA).Results revealed treatment status of the mothers and viral load were the two confounding factors having significant effect on HIV status of the infant. TNF-α GG genotype is significantly higher in EU infants as compared to HIV-1 positive infants. GG genotype was associated with high TNF- α levels in HIV-1 positive infants but the difference was not statistically significant. HIV-1 positive infants with -IFN-γ (+874) TT genotype was significantly associated with high IFN-γ levels. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study reporting the role of Th1 cytokine gene polymorphisms and their corresponding plasma cytokine levels in HIV-1 positive and EU infants from India. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.