Human milk galectin-3 binding protein and breast-feeding-associated HIV transmission.

ABSTRACT: Analysis of milk from 247 HIV-infected Zambian mothers showed that galectin-3 binding protein concentrations were significantly higher among HIV-infected mothers who transmitted HIV through breast-feeding (6.51 ± 2.12 μg/mL) than among nontransmitters but were also correlated with higher milk and plasma HIV RNA copies/mL and lower CD4+ cell counts. The association between galectin-3 binding protein and postnatal transmission was attenuated after adjustment for milk and plasma HIV load and CD4+ cell counts. This suggests that although milk galectin-3 binding protein is a marker of advanced maternal disease, it does not independently modify transmission risk.

SUBMITTER: Chan CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3907473 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature