Potent neutralizing serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) in human immunodeficiency virus type 2-exposed IgG-seronegative individuals

J Virol. 2004 Jul;78(13):7016-22. doi: 10.1128/JVI.78.13.7016-7022.2004.

Abstract

The mechanisms behind the resistance to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection are still not fully understood. In the present study, we explored the HIV-2-specific humoral serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) immune response in HIV-2-exposed IgG-seronegative (EGSN) individuals. Serum samples from heterosexual EGSN individuals and their known HIV-2-infected partners, as well as controls originating from Guinea-Bissau in Africa, were studied. Antibody reactivity to native and recombinant envelope glycoproteins was investigated, and the capacity of purified serum IgA to neutralize HIV-2(SBL6669) was tested. Our results showed that 16 of 25 EGSN samples exhibited reactivity against whole HIV-2 antigen, 6 of 25 samples reacted with recombinant gp36 (rgp36), and 3 of 25 samples were positive against HIV-2 rgp105; no reactivity to native HIV-2 gp125 was detected. Purified serum IgA antibodies from both EGSN and HIV-2-positive individuals, but not that from the negative controls, exhibited neutralization of HIV-2(SBL6669). The most potent neutralization activity was exhibited by IgA purified from EGSN compared to infected individuals' IgA. The antigenic pattern of the HIV-2-positive partners showed that all serum IgA samples were reactive to whole HIV-2 antigen, and 14 of 15 reacted with rgp36. For rgp105 and gp125, 5 of 15 and 4 of 15 samples exhibited binding, respectively. The serum of the EGSN group had a higher mean IgA concentration than that of the negative controls (P < 0.05). Thus, we describe HIV-2-specific serum IgA antigen reactivity and show a more potent serum IgA-mediated HIV-2-neutralizing activity in EGSN individuals than in HIV-2-infected patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Gene Products, env / immunology
  • HIV Antigens / genetics
  • HIV Antigens / immunology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-2 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Immunoglobulin A / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Protein Precursors / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Gene Products, env
  • HIV Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protein Precursors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • env protein gp36, Human immunodeficiency virus
  • gp105 envelope protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 2
  • gp125 envelope protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 2