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Béatrice Dambaya,1,2 Céline Nguefeu Nkenfou,1,3 Linda Mekue,1,4 Georges Této,1 Nicole Ngoufack,1,2 Georgia Ambada,1,2 Njiokou Flobert,1 Vittorio Colizzi,5 Ndjolo Alexis1,6 1Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CBIRC), Yaoundé, Cameroon; 2Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; 3Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; 4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon; 5Department of Immunology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 6Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, CameroonCorrespondence: Céline Nguefeu NkenfouHigher Teacher Training College, University of Yaounde I, P.O. BOX 47, Yaounde, CameroonTel +675573519Email nkenfou@yahoo.comBackground: Children show various degrees of vulnerability regarding HIV infection and disease progression. This disparity presents challenges for the follow-up of infected children. Here we investigated reasons behind this variability focusing on some host-related HIV genes.Methods: We screened 570 Cameroonian children and adolescents, aged 1 to 19 years old. Among them, 137 were followed over 4 years, from 2010 to 2015. Upon signing a proxy consent, children and adolescents were classified according to their age, CD4 count, viral load and clinical symptoms as long-term non-progressors (LTNP), slow progressors (SP) and rapid progressors (RP). Their blood was collected every 6 months and used for biological and host genetic polymorphism analyses. Five genes were genotyped: Trim5α (R136Q), CCR5 promoter 59029G, CCR2-64I, SDF 3ʹA and CCR5-Δ32. Exposed non-infected (HEU) and unexposed HIV negative children (HNEU) were recruited as control groups.Results: Among the 5 genes studied, the protective allele of Trim5α (R136Q) was present in all LTNP and in 72.34% and 2.56% of SP and RP, respectively (p

Introduction: The number of HIV exposed uninfected (HEU) infants is increasing as vertical transmission is reducing. This subpopulation requires more investigations. This study aimed at comparing the expression level of soluble Fas receptors (FasR) and ligands (FasL) between HIV infected, HEU and unexposed children., Methods: Eighty eight HIV-1infected, 86 HEU and 38 HIV unexposed children were recruited. Soluble FasR and FasL were measured in their plasma. Mann-Whitney U-Test was used to compare groups with 95% confidence. Spearman coefficient was used to test the correlation with CD4 and viral load (VL)., Results: Overall plasma levels of FasR were higher than that of FasL. The concentration of FasR and FasL were significantly higher in HIV-1 infected children in comparison to HEU and unexposed children. There was no difference in the plasma level of FasL in HIV infected compared to HEU children. A significant difference was observed between HIV infected children and HEU children (P=0.001) for the FasL. FasR were higher in both HIV infected and unexposed children compared to HEU children. There was a positive correlation (rs=+0.4; p=0.01) in ARV treated children between CD4 count and FasL concentration. Significant negative correlation (rs=-0.3; p=0.040) in ARV naïve children was observed between CD4 percentage and FasL. Significant and positive correlation (rs=+0.4; p=0.008) was observed between the VL and FasL in HIV infected, treated or not., Conclusion: HEU children differ from HIV infected and unexposed children as the level of FasL/R expression is concerned. HEU should be considered different from HIV unexposed although exempt from virus as some immune dysfunctions have been reported among them., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© Béatrice Dambaya et al.)