High-risk papillomavirus infection is associated with altered antibody responses in genital tract: non-specific responses in HPV infection.
In order to gain more information about local humoral immune responses to HPV infection, we quantified IgG, IgM, secretory-IgA (S-IgA), and total-IgA by ELISA, and lysozyme and lactoferrin by TR-IFMA, in cervical and cervicovaginal secretions of 40 healthy women and 28 high-risk HPV infected patients (11 were HPV16+). IgG, total-IgA, and S-IgA concentrations in cervicovaginal secretions (p < 0.0001) and high IgG and total-IgA concentrations (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) in endocervical secretions were significantly higher in HPV+ patients than in the healthy group. Since the S-IgA/total-IgA ratio was significantly lower in cervicovaginal (7.5%) and endocervical secretions (36.5%) in HPV+ women compared to the control group (p < 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively), HPV could be responsible for an increase in local production of non-secretory IgA (monomeric and dimeric forms). IgG and total-IgA concentrations in cervicovaginal and endocervical secretions fell in the same general percentage range in both HPV16+ and HPV+ groups (80% and 15%, respectively). However, the S-IgA/total-IgA ratio was much lower in HPV16+ than in HPV+ women, in both cervicovaginal secretions (3.4%) (p < 0.003) and in endocervical secretions (23.3%) (p < 0.001). Innate immunity proteins and local S-IgA response could not stop the spread of HPV infection in spite of high lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations. HPV16+ disturbed the local humoral immune system, which could partly explain its low clearance.
Bard
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Institut d'Etude et de Transfert de Gènes (EA 3181), Faculté de Médecine Pharmacie, Besançon, 35030 Cedex France.
Riethmuller
D
D
Meillet
D
D
Prétet
J L
JL
Schaal
J P
JP
Mougin
C
C
Seillès
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000032:analysis; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D012709:Serum Albumin; D009113:Muramidase; D007781:Lactoferrin