title: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific IgA and HIV neutralizing activity in the serum of exposed seronegative partners of HIV-seropositive persons.
abstract: The presence and activity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific antibodies were analyzed in the sera of 15 sexually exposed seronegative persons who had systemic HIV-specific cell-mediated immunity and IgA-mediated mucosal immunity and in their HIV-infected partners. The HIV-positive subjects had HIV-specific serum IgG and IgA; the seronegative persons had HIV-specific serum IgA in the absence of IgG. Testing of the seronegative persons 1 year after the interruption of at-risk sex showed that no IgG seroconversion had occurred and that HIV-specific IgA serum concentrations had declined. Serum from the HIV-exposed seronegative persons was analyzed for the ability to neutralize primary HIV-1 isolates. Neutralizing activity was detected in 5 of 15 sera and in 2 cases was retained by serum-purified IgA. Thus, the immunologic picture for resistance to HIV infection should include HIV-specific cell-mediated immunity as well as HIV-specific IgA-mediated mucosal and systemic immunity.
authors.affiliation: Centro Unitá Operativa di Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse, Malattie Infettive, Ospedale S. M. Annunziata, Florence, Italy. mago@imiucca.csi.unimi.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopalco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trabattoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo Caputo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semplici
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biasin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cosma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pastori
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meacci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Siccardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G