To study the vertical transmission of HIV type 1 in trophoblastic Swan71 cells and valuation of compounds for their ANTI-HIV activity

Abstract

Vertical transmission of HIV-1 is a serious public health issue. It is estimated that 1600 infants acquire HIV-1infection every day worldwide. The HIV-1 transmission rate is increasing in developing countries, ranging from10% to 40% in the absence of antiretroviral treatment. In order to understand the mechanism of transmission of HIV from mother to foetus, primary trophoblastic cells were infected with different strains of viral clone. Various mechanisms and receptors involved in entry of HIV into the cell were evaluated. The results claimed the absence of HIV-1 receptors; CD4 and its coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4, while mannose receptor were present on the cell surface. The experimental set-up indicated that HIV genome does not get integrated into the genome of trophoblastic cells. This increased the possibility that of the fact that the viral genome gets endocytosed inside the endosome of the cell and later, get released through transcytosis across the trophoblastic monolayer. After failing to detect the HIV internalization in primary trophoblast cells, we performed the infection in the presence of cytokines to establish an in vivo condition. After failing to detect the HIV internalization in primary trophoblast cells, we performed the infection in the presence of cytokines to establish an in vivo condition. Our findings also provide experimental evidence supporting the clinical observation that inflammatory mediators are associated with increased HIV-1 vertical transmission rates. With the advent of increase in HIV infection, blocking HIV-1 transmission in the female genital tract is key to prevent infection. Thus, natural drug compounds were used to evaluate the anti-HIV activity. Gallic acid and Ellagic acid are believed to have anti-HIV activity, which inhibits the activity of HIV-protease and integrase enzymes. The screening of this compounds suggest that both Gallic acid and Ellagic acid have a potential to be considered for the development of microbicides for prevention of HIV infection, with gallic acid being more effect drug in inhibiting HIV activity.