Association Between LTF Polymorphism and Risk of HIV-1 Transmission Among Zambian Seropositive Mothers

Background: Lactoferrin is a member of the innate immune system acting in the first line of defence against pathogens, and it is known for its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity, including HIV-1. Two polymorphisms, T29A and R47K, in the exon 1 region of the LTF gene (encoding for the lactoferrin protein) were previously described as able to influence the lactoferrin antimicrobial function. Objectives: LTF T29A and R47K genetic variants were analysed in a Zambian population to unravel if these polymorphisms could play a role in HIV-1 mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. Methods: LTF T29A and R47K polymorphisms were genotyped, using allelic specific fluorescent probes and real time PCR, in a population comprising 101 HIV-1 positive mothers and 333 children born to seropositive mothers. Results: Maternal LTF T29A A/A and A/G genotypes were found to be associated with decreased risk of HIV-1 MTCT, being more frequent among non-transmitter mothers respect to transmitter mothers. Conclusion: Our data suggested that maternal LTF genetic background contributes to the susceptibility to HIV-1 transmission from mother to new-borns.