title: Complement and antibodies: a dangerous liaison in HIV infection?
abstract: Due to ongoing recombination and mutations, HIV permanently escapes from neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses of the host. By the masking of epitopes or shedding of gp120, HIV-1 further impedes an efficient neutralization by Abs. Therefore, nAbs responses of the host are chasing behind a rapidly evolving virus and mainly non-neutralizing antibodies (non-nAbs) are present in the host. At the same time, complement deposition on immune-complexed HIV may counteract the immune response by enhancing the infection. On the other hand, complement-mediated lysis is a putative effector mechanism to control viral replication. Here we review the complex interplay between complement, neutralizing and non-neutralizing Abs during HIV infection and discuss the contribution of Abs and complement in blocking versus enhancing the course of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department Hygiene and Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Preglstr. 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. hygiene@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Heribert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stoiber
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soederholm
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilflingseder
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gusenbauer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hildgartner
authors.forename: Manfred P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dierich
mesh_terms: D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016167:Integrin alphaXbeta2 / Q000502:physiology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016167:Integrin alphaXbeta2; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D003165:Complement System Proteins