Characterization of Immunoglobulin A/G Responses During 3 Doses of the Human Papillomavirus-16/18 ASO4-Adjuvanted Vaccine.
BACKGROUND
Individuals receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine develop high levels of circulating neutralizing antibodies. However, data about antibody responses in the cervix are limited.


METHODS
This study was designed to describe the course of IgA/IgG responses in cervical secretions and in serum after intramuscular administration of the HPV16/18 AS04-adjuvant vaccine. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of IgA and IgG anti-HPV-VLP was developed for this purpose.


RESULTS
Immunoglobulin G seroconversion after the second dose was observed in 100% of the participants and remained 1 month after the third dose. Regarding IgG reactivity in cervical secretions, conversion was observed in 85% of women after the final dose. Immunoglobulin A seroconversion was observed in 76.7% of women after the third dose. Lower levels of IgA were detected in the cervical mucus (28.3%) and decreased to 23.3% after the last dose. Comparing local and systemic IgG responses, positivity in both serum and cervical samples was observed in 85%, whereas in 15% only, the serum was IgG antibody positive. A weak agreement between local and systemic IgA responses was observed. Only 18.3% of participants were local and systemic IgA positive, 58.4% were positive only in serum, 5% were positive only in the cervix, and 18.3% were both local and systemic IgA antibody negative.


CONCLUSIONS
After the third vaccination, there is a strong agreement between cervical and systemic IgG antibody responses and a weak agreement between cervical and systemic IgA antibody responses. The induction of IgA antibodies seems to be secondary to that of IgG antibodies in response to HPV intramuscular vaccination.
From the *Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; †Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; Departments of ‡Microbiology and Parasitology and §Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; ¶Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; and ∥Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY.
Ana Katherine
AK
Gonçalves
Paulo César
PC
Giraldo
Kleber Juvenal
KJ
Farias
Paula Renata
PR
Machado
Ana Paula Ferreira
AP
Costa
Luanda Canário
LC
de Souza
Janaina Cristiana
JC
Crispim
José
J
Eleutério
Steven S
SS
Witkin
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines