Association between breast milk fatty acids and HIV-1 transmission through breastfeeding

S Badiou; E Tuaillon; J Viljoen; J B Escudié; J P Cristol; M L Newell; P Van de Perre; D Neveu

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2015.11.004

Association between breast milk fatty acids and HIV-1 transmission through breastfeeding

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2016 Feb:105:35-42. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2015.11.004. Epub 2015 Dec 28.

Authors

S Badiou¹, E Tuaillon², J Viljoen³, J B Escudié⁴, J P Cristol⁵, M L Newell⁶, P Van de Perre², D Neveu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, France; PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM U1046, CNRS UMR 9214, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Electronic address: s-badiou@chu-montpellier.fr.
² Department of Bacteriology and Virology, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, France; INSERM U 1058, Infection by HIV and by Agents with Mucocutaneous Tropism: From Pathogenesis to Prevention, University of Montpellier, France.
³ Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
⁴ INSERM U 1058, Infection by HIV and by Agents with Mucocutaneous Tropism: From Pathogenesis to Prevention, University of Montpellier, France.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, France; PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM U1046, CNRS UMR 9214, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
⁶ Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom.

PMID: 26869089
DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2015.11.004

Abstract

A residual mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastfeeding persists despite prophylaxis. We identified breast milk fatty acids (FA) associated with postnatal HIV transmission through breastfeeding in a case-control study. Cases (n=23) were HIV-infected women with an infant who acquired HIV after 6 weeks of age. Controls (n=23) were matched on infant׳s age at sample collection. Adjusting for maternal antenatal plasma CD4 T cell count, cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) and eicosatrienoic acid (20:3n-3) were associated with HIV transmission in opposite dose-response manner: OR (tertile 3 versus tertile 1): 10.8 and 0.16, p for trend=0.02 and 0.03, respectively. These fatty acids correlated with HIV RNA load, T helper-1 related cytokines, IL15, IP10, and β2 microglobulin, positively for cis-vaccenic acid, negatively for eicosatrienoic acid. These results suggested a change in FA synthesis by mammary gland cells leading to increased cis-vaccenic acid in milk of mothers who transmitted HIV to their infant during breastfeeding.

Keywords: Breast milk; Breastfeeding; Cytokines; Fatty acids n-3 n-7; HIV; Immune factors; Mother-to-child transmission.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Breast Feeding*
Case-Control Studies
Fatty Acids / chemistry*
Fatty Acids / physiology*
Female
HIV Infections / transmission*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Milk, Human / chemistry*

Substances

Fatty Acids