Cervicovaginal Overproduction of Specific IgG to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Contrasts with Normal or Impaired IgA Local Response in HIV Infection

Paired sera and cervicovaginal secretions (CVS) from 30 women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type I (before AIDS) were analyzed for IgG and IgA antibodies to HIV and for IgG IgA and human serum albumin. Subjects were compared with 30 age-matched healthy controls. In HIV-infected women cervicovaginal immunoglobulins were markedly increased and IgG predominated. An increased immunoglobulin transudation was implicated since cervicovaginal albumin levels were 2.3-fold above those of normal controls. Furthermore IgG excretion by reference to albumin was increased 1.9-fold whereas the IgA secretion tended to decrease suggesting a possible enhanced local IgG synthesis. Mean IgG and IgA anti-HIV antibody titers were respectively 30- and 12-fold higher in serum than in CVS but their mean specific activities were higher in CVS than in serum suggesting a local synthesis of both isotypes. The IgA antibody response to HIV remained poor compared with the strong IgG response. (authors)