HIV-1 binding and neutralizing antibodies of injecting drug users

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated a stronger seroreactivity against some synthetic peptides responsible for inducing neutralizing antibodies in injecting drug users (IDU) compared to that of individuals sexually infected with HIV-1 (S), but the effectiveness in terms of the neutralizing ability of these antibodies has not been evaluated. Our objective was to study the humoral immune response of IDU by determining the specificity of their antibodies and the presence of neutralizing antibodies. The neutralization capacity against the HIV-1 isolate MN (genotype B), the primary HIV-1 isolate 95BRRJ021 (genotype F), and the seroreactivity with peptides known to induce neutralizing antibodies, from the V2 and V3 loops of different HIV-1 subtypes, were analyzed. Seroreactivity indicates that IDU plasma are more likely to recognize a broader range of peptides than S plasma, with significantly higher titers, especially of V3 peptides. Similar neutralization frequencies of the MN isolate were observed in plasma of the IDU (16/47) and S (20/60) groups in the 1:10 dilution. The neutralization of the 95BRRJ021 isolate was more frequently observed for plasma from the S group (15/23) than from the IDU group (15/47, P = 0.0108). No correlation between neutralization and seroreactivity with the peptides tested was observed. These results suggest that an important factor responsible for the extensive and broad humoral immune response observed in IDU is their infection route. There was very little difference in neutralizing antibody response between the IDU and S groups despite their differences in seroreactivity and health status.

Factors Associated with Outcomes from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

“…There is also evidence in the literature that proves the association between health behaviour and HIV outcomes. Injecting drug use rarely is associated with positive HIV outcome 51,52 ; it is most often associated with negative outcomes such as earlier onset of AIDS and exitus letalis 7,8,10,24,29,30,53,54,55,56 . As far as high risk sexual behavior is concerned, the literature most often reports no difference between homosexual and heterosexual behavior 17,25,29,30,57 .…”

Cilvēka imūndeficīta vīrusa infekcijas iznākumu asociētie faktori. Promocijas darba kopsavilkums

“…Literatūra liecina arī par veselības uzvedības saistību ar HIV iznākumiem. Injicējamo narkotiku lietošana reti tiek asociēta ar labākiem HIV iznākumu rādītājiem 51,52 , biežāk šis veselību ietekmējošais paradums tiek saistīts ar sliktāku iznākumu (agrīnāku AIDS stadijas un letāla iznākuma iestāšanos) 7,8,10,24,29,30,53,54,55,56 . Attiecībā uz paaugstināta riska seksuālo uzvedību visbiežāk literatūrā pausts uzskats, ka nav atšķirības starp personām, kuras inficējušās ar HIV homoseksuālu dzimumkontaktu ceļā, un tiem, kuri inficējušies heteroseksuālos dzimumkontaktos 17,25,29,30,57 .…”