title: Natural anti-CCR5 antibodies in HIV-infection and -exposure.
abstract: Natural antibodies constitute a first-line of defence against pathogens; they may also play other roles in immune regulation and homeostasis, through their ability to bind host antigens, surface molecules and receptors. Natural anti-CCR5 antibodies can be decisive in preventing HIV infection in mucosal tissues and offer prompt and effective protection just at major sites of virus entry. Among natural anti-CCR5 antibodies, IgG and IgA to the ECL1 domain have been shown to block HIV effectively and durably without causing harm to the host. Their biological properties and their uncommon generation in subsets of HIV-infected and HIV-exposed individuals (so called ESN) will be introduced and discussed, with the aim at exploiting their potential in therapy and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. lopalco.lucia@hsr.it
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopalco
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000737:chemistry; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019713:Receptors, CCR5