Differential IgG subclass responses to epitopes in transmembrane protein of HIV-1

Update on Fc-Mediated Antibody Functions Against HIV-1 Beyond Neutralization

Antibodies (Abs) are the major component of the humoral immune response and a key player in vaccination. The precise Ab-mediated inhibitory mechanisms leading to in vivo protection against HIV have not been elucidated. In addition to the desired viral capture and neutralizing Ab functions, complex Ab-dependent mechanisms that involve engaging immune effector cells to clear infected host cells, immune complexes, and opsonized virus have been proposed as being relevant. These inhibitory mechanisms involve Fc-mediated effector functions leading to Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, cell-mediated virus inhibition, aggregation, and complement inhibition. Indeed, the decreased risk of infection observed in the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial was correlated with the production of non-neutralizing inhibitory Abs, highlighting the role of Ab inhibitory functions besides neutralization. Moreover, Ab isotypes and subclasses recognizing specific HIV envelope epitopes as well as pecular Fc-receptor polymorphisms have been associated with disease progression. These findings further support the need to define which Fc-mediated Ab inhibitory functions leading to protection are critical for HIV vaccine design. Herein, based on our previous review Su & Moog Front Immunol 2014, we update the different inhibitory properties of HIV-specific Abs that may potentially contribute to HIV protection.

Distinct, IgG1-driven antibody response landscapes demarcate individuals with broadly HIV-1 neutralizing activity

Kadelka et al. show that parameters linked with HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) development shape HIV-1–binding antibody responses in an antigen and IgG subclass dependent manner. Identified HIV-1 antibody signature landscapes reveal a shift toward IgG1-driven responses in bnAb developers.

Understanding pathways that promote HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) induction is crucial to advance bnAb-based vaccines. We recently demarcated host, viral, and disease parameters associated with bnAb development in a large HIV-1 cohort screen. By establishing comprehensive antibody signatures based on IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 activity to 13 HIV-1 antigens in 4,281 individuals in the same cohort, we now show that the same four parameters that are significantly linked with neutralization breadth, namely viral load, infection length, viral diversity, and ethnicity, also strongly influence HIV-1–binding antibody responses. However, the effects proved selective, shaping binding antibody responses in an antigen and IgG subclass–dependent manner. IgG response landscapes in bnAb inducers indicated a differentially regulated, IgG1-driven HIV-1 antigen response, and IgG1 binding of the BG505 SOSIP trimer proved the best predictor of HIV-1 neutralization breadth in plasma. Our findings emphasize the need to unravel immune modulators that underlie the differentially regulated IgG response in bnAb inducers to guide vaccine development.

HIV-Specific Antibody Responses in HIV-Infected Patients: From a Monoclonal to a Polyclonal View

HIV infections represent a major global health threat, affecting more than 35 million individuals worldwide. High infection rates and problems associated with lifelong antiretroviral treatment emphasize the need for the development of prophylactic and therapeutic immune intervention strategies. It is conceivable that insights for the design of new immunogens capable of eliciting protective immune responses may come from the analysis of HIV-specific antibody responses in infected patients. Using sophisticated technologies, several monoclonal neutralizing antibodies were isolated from HIV-infected individuals. However, the majority of polyclonal antibody responses found in infected patients are nonneutralizing. Comprehensive analyses of the molecular targets of HIV-specific antibody responses identified that during natural infection antibodies are mainly misdirected towards gp120 epitopes outside of the CD4-binding site and against regions and proteins that are not exposed on the surface of the virus. We therefore argue that vaccines aiming to induce protective responses should include engineered immunogens, which are capable of focusing the immune response towards protective epitopes.

Binding and neutralization activity of human IgG1 and IgG3 from serum of HIV-infected individuals

The IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses represent the predominant antibody response to viral infections, including HIV. IgG subclasses differ in their interaction with antigen and functional effects due to specific physiochemical features. With an elongated hinge, IgG3 antibodies tend to have more segmental flexibility, which can render the antibody more effective at interacting with antigen. We have previously shown that the change of the human anti-CD4-binding site monoclonal antibody F105 from IgG1 to IgG3 results in neutralization of a T cell line-adapted isolate (TCLA) resistant to neutralization by the parental IgG1. In the studies presented here, we have purified IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses from the sera of HIV-infected individuals and tested for immunoreactivity with and neutralization of HIV. Purified total IgG3 tended to have less relative reactivity and mediated relatively poorer neutralization of either laboratory or primary isolates. IgG3 also tended to react relatively less well with gp160 and gp120 and more robustly with gp41 and p24. The contrasting results with serum, as opposed to F105, may result from the polyclonal nature of serum antibodies. There is also a failure to make a robust IgG3 response to neutralizing epitopes on envelope glycoproteins during natural infection. These studies suggest that the investigation of isotype effects on neutralization will require isotype-switched human monoclonal antibodies. Understanding isotype and neutralization will provide important data necessary for designing the most effective possible vaccines.

Selective alterations of the antibody response to HIV-1

HIV infection leads to progressive alterations of humoral immune functions, including B-cell hyperplasia, hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated autoantibody titers, a poor response to neoantigens and mitogens, polyclonal B-cell activation, monoclonal gammopathies, and a significant deterioration of the antigen-specific humoral response. There is also an important isotypic imbalance of the antibody (Ab) response in the systemic compartment and a profound modification of mucosal immune functions. These abnormalities may contribute to disease progression and development of opportunistic infections, despite the presence of serum-neutralizing anti-HIV Abs. Equally important are the abnormal selection mechanisms of the Ab repertoire that seem to be responsible for B-cell clonal deletions. The VH3 gene family, which encodes for approx 50% of immunoglobulins expressed by peripheral B-cells from normal adults, is underrepresented in human monoclonal antibodies to HIV-1 and in the peripheral B-cells of AIDS patients. These abnormalities, together with features of germinal center alteration, could be responsible for the clonal elimination of a subset of B-cells, and could contribute to HIV pathogenesis.