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Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital

Dissertation (MSc (Human Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Rossouw, Theresa M.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Rossouw, Theresa M.
author_browse Rossouw, Theresa M.
author_facet Rossouw, Theresa M.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Human Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:21.635Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/88819 Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital Rossouw, Theresa M. u15012914@tuks.co.za Du Toit, Peet Kleynhans, Brandon UCTD Women of reproductive age HIV Antiretroviral therapy Babies suboptimal development Brain development Monocytes South Africa Dissertation (MSc (Human Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Current data show that an increasing number of women of reproductive age are living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly in Southern Africa. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV from a mother to her child, this in turn leads to more babies being born exposed to HIV and ART. This presents a stark problem as research suggests that mere exposure to HIV, even if the baby is HIV negative, may be linked to increased rates of suboptimal development, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. For these reasons, it is imperative that our understanding of the subsequent development of children born with exposure to HIV and ART is improved. Research suggests that children living with HIV, when compared to children not living with HIV, tend to underperform on general cognitive tests, processing speed, and visual-spatial tasks and also tend to show increased risk of developing psychiatric and mental health-related issues. This is a cause for concern as these children approach school-going age and will be expected to successfully integrate into an education environment. This is a particular concern in South Africa, where up to 30% of children born are HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU). The role of monocytes and macrophages in the early development of the human brain is an ever-growing field of research. Classically activated macrophages, derived from circulating monocytes, are known to exert neurotoxic effects and, as such, an imbalance of presenting macrophage phenotypes has been associated with a variety of inflammatory conditions. This balance is essential as microglia, in the standard context, contribute to tissue remodelling, repair, and neurogenesis. Less is known about monocyte function and the effect different functional phenotypes might have on the developing brain. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the association between monocyte function and early-life brain development, as reflected by the head circumference (HC). The results of this study were generated and assessed through two main methods: anthropometric measures and cytokine levels before and after whole blood stimulation (WBS). No differences were observed for HC. However, for the other anthropometric measurements, although no statistically significant differences were observed at birth, notable differences emerged at the 6-month and 12-month time-points. HEU infants were significantly smaller at 12 months of age, showing less optimal growth progression than that of the HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) group at this point. These findings indicate stunting in growth linked to HIV exposure in the HEU infants. When the cytokine data were considered, the HEU group were more likely to over-express pro-inflammatory cytokines before and after WBS and, notably, under-express anti-inflammatory cytokines. This observation could be as a result of their pre-birth exposure to an inflammatory intra-uterine environment. Significant positive correlations were observed between HC and the monocyte growth factor, granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide at birth, as well as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) after stimulation with Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid at birth. Monocytes are the most important source of TNF-α in humans. Although not providing direct evidence, the positive correlation between these factors and HC indirectly supports the hypothesis that monocytes are important players in brain development. N/A Physiology MSc (Human Physiology) Unrestricted 2022-12-15T07:37:12Z 2022-12-15T07:37:12Z 2023 2022 Dissertation * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88819 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21716393 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Women of reproductive age
HIV
Antiretroviral therapy
Babies suboptimal development
Brain development
Monocytes
South Africa
Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
title Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
title_full Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
title_fullStr Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
title_full_unstemmed Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
title_short Association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without HIV at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
title_sort association between head circumference and monocyte function in neonates born to mothers with and without hiv at kalafong provincial tertiary hospital
topic UCTD
Women of reproductive age
HIV
Antiretroviral therapy
Babies suboptimal development
Brain development
Monocytes
South Africa
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88819
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21716393