Dynamics of interferon-gamma pro-inflammatory cytokine during human immunodeficiency virus infection and pregnancy: A prospective study in western Kenya

Abstract

Objective: The study established the trends, changes and differences of interferon-gamma (IFN-λ) during pregnancy among HIV-infected and uninfected women in western Kenya.
Design: A prospective study design.
Setting: Academic Model Providing Accessible Treatment, and Health (AMPATH) which is associated with Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Western Kenya.
Study participants: The study involved 44 HIV-infected pregnant women, who were asymptomatic and antiretroviral-naïve and 44 healthy pregnant women as controls.
Results: A decreasing trend of IFN-λ was observed as pregnancy advanced in both groups. Among the HIV-infected, the change of IFN-λ at the second and third trimesters from first trimester were negative and significant, That is, [-2.0 (95% CI: -2.7, -1.2) pg/ml; P<0.0001)] and [-2.3 (95% CI: -3.1, -1.6) pg/ml; P<0.0001] respectively. Among the HIV-uninfected women, the change in IFN-λ at the second and third trimesters was also negative and significant compared to that of the first trimester, That is [-0.9 (95% CI: -1.7, -0.2) pg/ml; P=0.015] and [-1.5 (95% CI: -2.3, -0.7) pg/ml; P<0.0001] respectively. However, the difference of IFN-λ between HIV-infected and uninfected women indicated significant higher levels among the HIV-infected women in the first [1.8 (95% CI: (0.4, 3.2) pg/ml; P=0.013)] and third trimester [1 (95% CI: 0.1, 1.7) pg/ml, P=0.021] but did not show significant difference in the second trimester [0.7 (95% CI: (-0.2, 1.7) pg/ml; P=0.113] of pregnancy.
Conclusion: Pregnancy seems to suppress IFN-λ cytokine, however, HIV-infection may lead to higher levels of the cytokine among the HIV-infected.