title: Cervicovaginal overproduction of specific IgG to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contrasts with normal or impaired IgA local response in HIV infection.
abstract: Paired sera and cervicovaginal secretions (CVS) from 30 women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (before AIDS) were analyzed for IgG and IgA antibodies to HIV and for IgG, IgA, and human serum albumin. Subjects were compared with 30 aged-matched healthy controls. In HIV-infected women, cervicovaginal immunoglobulins were markedly increased, and IgG predominated. An increased immunoglobulin transudation was implicated, since cervicovaginal albumin levels were 2.3-fold above those of normal controls. Furthermore, IgG excretion by reference to albumin was increased 1.9-fold, whereas the IgA secretion tended to decrease, suggesting a possible enhanced local IgG synthesis. Mean IgG and IgA anti-HIV antibody titers were, respectively, 30- and 12-fold higher in serum than in CVS, but their mean specific activities were higher in CVS than in serum, suggesting a local synthesis of both isotypes. The IgA antibody response to HIV remained poor compared with the strong IgG response.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunologie Microbienne, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dupré
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prazuck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tévi-Bénissan
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kanga
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pathey
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pillot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin; D007781:Lactoferrin