Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system
| dc.contributor.advisor | Woodman, Zenda | |
| dc.contributor.author | Andrews, Cameron | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-11-09T08:51:18Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-11-09T08:51:18Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2026-11-09T08:50:23Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, yet the mechanisms linking diverse maternal factors to premature labour are poorly understood. Women living with HIV, as well as those receiving antiretroviral therapy, have an elevated risk of preterm birth, but the underlying pathways remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of HIV pseudovirions (HIV-PSV), antiretroviral drugs, and immune cell interactions on human myometrial contractility using an in vitro model. HIV-PSV Env induced significant myometrial contraction, while ARVs had no effect. Viral entry assays confirmed that contraction occurs independently of productive infection. HIV-PSV exposure reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but triggered secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, with IL-1β and IL-6 directly promoting contraction. These findings support a model in which Env-dependent signalling activates myometrial cells and drives autocrine, cytokine-mediated contraction. This mechanism provides a biologically plausible explanation for PTB risk in women living with HIV and identifies potential targets for therapeutic intervention to mitigate HIV-associated preterm labour. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Andrews, C. (2026). <i>Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBMS). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43919 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Andrews, Cameron. <i>"Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43919 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Andrews, C. 2026. Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBMS). http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43919 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Andrews, Cameron AB - Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, yet the mechanisms linking diverse maternal factors to premature labour are poorly understood. Women living with HIV, as well as those receiving antiretroviral therapy, have an elevated risk of preterm birth, but the underlying pathways remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of HIV pseudovirions (HIV-PSV), antiretroviral drugs, and immune cell interactions on human myometrial contractility using an in vitro model. HIV-PSV Env induced significant myometrial contraction, while ARVs had no effect. Viral entry assays confirmed that contraction occurs independently of productive infection. HIV-PSV exposure reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but triggered secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, with IL-1β and IL-6 directly promoting contraction. These findings support a model in which Env-dependent signalling activates myometrial cells and drives autocrine, cytokine-mediated contraction. This mechanism provides a biologically plausible explanation for PTB risk in women living with HIV and identifies potential targets for therapeutic intervention to mitigate HIV-associated preterm labour. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - preterm birth KW - HIV LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system TI - Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43919 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43919 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Andrews C. Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43919 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | preterm birth | |
| dc.subject | HIV | |
| dc.title | Investigating how maternal HIV-1 infection and use of antiretroviral therapy impacts preterm birth using an in vitro model system | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MSc (Med) |