Abstract
Background: Lactoferrin (LF) is a mammalian iron-binding glycoprotein with antiviral effects, possibly inhibiting HIV-1 replication. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of bovine LF on immunological and virological status of HIV-1 vertically infected children
Methods: Twenty-two HIV-vertically-infected children (9 girls, 13 boys; age 3–18 years) monitored from birth were enrolled. Children did not change antiretroviral regimens during the previous 12 months or longer (8/22 naïve-group 1; 11/22 NRTI/NNRTI-group 2; 3/22 HAART). Bovine LF was orally administered (3 g/day) for 6 mo. CD4 + T lymphocytes and viral load (VL) were assessed quarterly from 6 mo before (T-6) starting (T0) LF administration up to 6 mo after (T6) and 2 months after the end of supplementation (T8).
Results: None of the patients showed any new HIV-1 related symptom at follow-up. Statistically significant variations both in VL values (p<0.0001), and in CD4+ T-lymphocytes % values (p=0.005) were registered during the supplementation period. Viral load declined from an average (SD) of 4.54 log10 (0.65) to 4.28 log10 (0.60) at T6, while CD4+ median values increased from 21.5% at T0 to 24.5% at T6. No significant variations in virological and immunological parameters were observed during the pre-treatment period (respectively p=0,923 for VL and p=0,130 for CD4+ %). Mean VL value two months after treatment interruption (T8) did not differ significantly neither from basal (T-0; p=0.079) neither from the mean VL at the end of lactoferrin administration (T-6; p=0.274); CD4+ % values at T8 remained significantly higher than to the basal level (p=0.029). The median VL % variation was not significantly different in group 1 and group 2 (-42% and -49% respectively; p=0.70). The median % variation of CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.023; + 13% group 1; + 27% group 2).
Conclusions: Lactoferrin, expecially when associated with antiretroviral therapy, seems to have a positive effect on plasma viral load and on the immune system modulation in HIV-1 vertically-infected children. LF could integrate well in the treatment of HIV infection in paediatric age. Further studies on a larger scale and longer follow-up period are warranted in order to define ways and times of LF administration and to obtain the best effect.
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Salvini, F., Gemmellaro, L., Bettiga, C. et al. 321 Immunological and Virological Effects of Bovine Lactoferrin in HIV-1 Vertically Infected Children. Pediatr Res 58, 409 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00350
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00350