title: Analysis of the cross-reactive anti-gp120 antibody population in human immunodeficiency virus-infected asymptomatic individuals.
abstract: This study was undertaken to analyze the specificity and neutralizing properties of cross-reactive anti-gp120 antibodies (Abs) in the sera of two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected asymptomatic individuals. Two panels of murine monoclonal anti-idiotype Abs (anti-id MAbs) were established against cross-reactive polyclonal anti-gp120 Abs purified from HIV+ sera by sequential affinity chromatography using gp120SF2- and gp120IIIB-Sepharose columns. These panels of anti-id MAbs were then used to affinity purify idiotype-positive (Id+) anti-gp120 Abs from HIV+ sera. The recovery of each of these Id+ Abs by purification indicated that several idiotypically distinct cross-reactive anti-gp120 Abs are present in sera over a wide range of concentrations. Immunological and biological studies showed that although all of the Id+ Abs were reactive against gp120SF2 and gp120IIIB, they exhibited unique epitope specificities and distinct neutralizing activities. Most of the Id+ Abs were directed against epitopes in the CD4 attachment site (CD4 site epitopes) of gp120 and exhibited a spectrum of broadly neutralizing activities. On the other hand, a minor population of Id+ Abs showed specificity for the V3 region of gp120 and exhibited limited cross-neutralizing activities. Together, these studies indicate that the CD4 site epitope-specific Abs are heterogeneous with respect to their clonality, neutralizing activity, and concentration in sera. This heterogeneity suggests that anti-gp120 Abs to the CD4 attachment site are developed in response to multiple overlapping epitopes present on the original virus isolate and/or epitopes on mutated variants which emerged over time.
authors.affiliation: IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hariharan
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Nara
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Caralli
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haigwood
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120