title: Effect of naturally acquired type-specific serum antibodies against human papillomavirus type 16 infection.
abstract: While vaccine-induced antibodies are known to confer protection against incident human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, there is inconsistent data regarding the protective effect of naturally acquired anti-HPV antibodies.
  
  
  
  To estimate the protective effect of naturally acquired anti-HPV16 serum antibodies against incident anogenital infection with HPV16 in females aged 20-64 years and to assess whether antibodies influence the persistence/clearance of anogenital HPV16 infection.
  
  
  
  4432 women attending the organized national cervical cancer screening program in Slovenia were initially enrolled. 2199 and 1848 women had valid HPV DNA results obtained using PCR-based assays and HPV antibody serotyping results obtained using pseudovirion-based serological assay, at baseline and at three-year follow-up, respectively.
  
  
  
  Baseline HPV16 seroprevalence was 2.4-fold higher among HPV16 DNA-positive women (55.7% vs. 23.2%; p<0.01). Baseline HPV16 DNA-positive/seronegative women frequently acquired anti-HPV16 antibodies during follow-up (OR=8.2; 95% CI: 3.8-17.8). Baseline anti-HPV16 antibodies persisted at follow-up, irrespective of baseline HPV16 DNA status (OR=40.6; 95% CI: 30.3-54.5). Baseline HPV16 DNA-negative/seropositive women were less likely to acquire HPV16 infection at follow-up (unadjusted OR=0.2; 0.1-0.9). However, the age-adjusted association was non-significant (adjusted OR=0.3; 0.1-1.2). The tendency for protective effect was stronger among women older than 25 years (OR=0.2; 0.03-1.8). Baseline anti-HPV16 antibodies were not associated with persistence/clearance of HPV16 infection at follow-up (OR=0.8; 0.3-1.9).
  
  
  
  Naturally acquired anti-HPV16 serum antibodies appeared to protect against anogenital HPV16 infection, but this association was at least partially confounded by age. Baseline anti-HPV16 serum antibodies did not influence persistence/clearance of HPV16 infection at follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Triglav
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Artemchuk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oštrbenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: K Miriam
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Elfström
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Faust
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poljak
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Joakim.Dillner@ki.se.
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dillner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D017524:Slovenia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Cervical cancer; HPV16; Human papillomaviruses; Serum antibodies