Distinct genital tract HIV-specific antibody profiles associated with tenofovir gel

Mucosal Immunol. 2016 May;9(3):821-833. doi: 10.1038/mi.2015.145. Epub 2016 Jan 27.

Abstract

The impact of topical antiretrovirals for pre-exposure prophylaxis on humoral responses following HIV infection is unknown. Using a binding antibody multiplex assay, we investigated HIV-specific IgG and IgA responses to envelope glycoproteins, p24 Gag and p66, in the genital tract (GT) and plasma following HIV acquisition in women assigned to tenofovir gel (n=24) and placebo gel (n=24) in the CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial to assess if this topical antiretroviral had an impact on mucosal and systemic antibody responses. Linear mixed effect modeling and partial least squares discriminant analysis was used to identify multivariate antibody signatures associated with tenofovir use. There were significantly higher response rates to gp120 Env (P=0.03), p24 (P=0.002), and p66 (P=0.009) in plasma and GT in women assigned to tenofovir than placebo gel at multiple time points post infection. Notably, p66 IgA titers in the GT and plasma were significantly higher in the tenofovir compared with the placebo arm (P<0.05). Plasma titers for 9 of the 10 HIV-IgG specificities predicted GT levels. Taken together, these data suggest that humoral immune responses are increased in blood and GT of individuals who acquire HIV infection in the presence of tenofovir gel.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genitalia, Female / drug effects*
  • Genitalia, Female / immunology
  • Genitalia, Female / metabolism
  • HIV Antibodies / metabolism*
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / immunology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / immunology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / metabolism*
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Tenofovir / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
  • gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • p24 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
  • Tenofovir
  • reverse transcriptase, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase