Human milk galectin-3 binding protein and breast-feeding-associated HIV transmission
Chan, C.S.; Kim, H.-Y.; Autran, C.; Kim, J.H.; Sinkala, M.; Kankasa, C.; Mwiya, M.; Thea, D.M.; Aldrovandi, G.M.; Kuhn, L.; Bode, L.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 32(12): E473-E475
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1532-0987 PMID: 23899964 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e3182a6e0a8Document Number: 626304
Analysis of milk from 247 HIV-infected Zambian mothers showed that galectin-3 binding protein concentrations were significantly higher among HIV-infected mothers who transmitted HIV through breast-feeding (6.51 ± 2.12 μg/mL) than among nontransmitters but were also correlated with higher milk and plasma HIV RNA copies/mL and lower CD4+ cell counts. The association between galectin-3 binding protein and postnatal transmission was attenuated after adjustment for milk and plasma HIV load and CD4+ cell counts. This suggests that although milk galectin-3 binding protein is a marker of advanced maternal disease, it does not independently modify transmission risk.