Soluble human leukocyte antigen -G during pregnancy and infancy in Benin : mother/child resemblance and association with the risk of malaria infection and low birth weight

2017

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000393700100024

d'Almeida T. C., Sadissou I., Milet Jacqueline, Cottrell Gilles, Mondiere A., Avokpaho E., Gineau L., Sabbagh A., Massougbodji A., Moutairou K., Donadi E. A., Favier B., Carosella E., Moreau P., Rouas-Freiss N., Courtin David, Garcia André

Plos One, 2017, 12 (2), p. e0171117 [17 p.] ISSN 1932-6203

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) G is a tolerogenic molecule involved in the maternal-fetal immune tolerance phenomenon. Its expression during some infectious diseases leading to immune evasion has been established. A first study conducted in Benin has shown that the production of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) during the first months of life is strongly correlated with the maternal level at delivery and associated with low birth weight and malaria. However sHLA-G measurements during pregnancy were not available for mothers and furthermore, to date the evolution of sHLA-G in pregnancy is not documented in African populations. To extend these previous findings, between January 2010 and June 2013, 400 pregnant women of a malaria preventive trial and their newborns were followed up in Benin until the age of 2 years. Soluble HLA-G was measured 3 times during pregnancy and repeatedly during the 2 years follow-up to explore how sHLA-G evolved and the factors associated. During pregnancy, plasma levels of sHLA-G remained stable and increased significantly at delivery (p<0.001). Multigravid women seemed to have the highest levels (p = 0.039). In infants, the level was highest in cord blood and decreased before stabilizing after 18 months (p<0.001). For children, a high level of sHLA-G was associated with malaria infection during the follow-up (p = 0.02) and low birth weight (p = 0.06). The mean level of sHLA-G during infancy was strongly correlated with the mother's level during pregnancy (<0.001), and not only at delivery. Moreover, mothers with placental malaria infection had a higher probability of giving birth to a child with a high level of sHLA-g (p = 0.006). High sHLA-G levels during pregnancy might be associated with immune tolerance related to placental malaria. Further studies are needed but this study provides a first insight concerning the potential role of sHLA-G as a biomarker of weakness for newborns and infants.

Santé : généralités [050]

BENIN

Fonds IRD [F B010069310]

fdi:010069310