Human papillomavirus vaccination induces neutralising antibodies in oral mucosal fluids

Abstract

Background:Mucosal human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a major cause of cancers and papillomas of the anogenital and oropharyngeal tract. HPV-vaccination elicits neutralising antibodies in sera and cervicovaginal secretions and protects uninfected individuals from persistent anogenital infection and associated diseases caused by the vaccine-targeted HPV types. Whether immunisation can prevent oropharyngeal infection and diseases and whether neutralising antibodies represent the correlate of protection, is still unclear.Methods:We determined IgG and neutralising antibodies against low-risk HPV6 and high-risk HPV16/18 in sera and oral fluids from healthy females (n=20) before and after quadrivalent HPV-vaccination and compared the results with non-vaccinated controls.Results:HPV-vaccination induced type-specific antibodies in sera and oral fluids of the vaccinees. Importantly, the antibodies in oral fluids were capable of neutralising HPV pseudovirions in vitro, indicating protection from infection. The increased neutralising antibody levels against HPV16/18 in sera and oral fluids post-vaccination correlated significantly within an individual.Conclusions:We provide experimental proof that HPV-vaccination elicits neutralising antibodies to the vaccine-targeted types in oral fluids. Hence, immunisation may confer direct protection against type-specific HPV infection and associated diseases of the oropharyngeal tract. Measurement of antibodies in oral fluids represents a suitable tool to assess vaccine-induced protection within the mucosal milieu of the orophayrynx.

Oral manifestations of human papillomavirus infections

“…Recent studies showed no statistically significant correlations between IgG in sera and saliva against HPV‐6 and HPV‐18. In contrast, the levels of HPV‐16 IgG in sera and in oral fluids were statistically significantly correlated . Hanna et al .…”

“…The current key question is whether the HPV vaccines also prevent HPV infections in the head and neck region. By now it is known that HPV vaccination induces HPV‐specific antibodies in saliva , including neutralizing antibodies . The concentrations of HPV‐16 and HPV‐18 antibody were approximately 3 logs lower in saliva than in serum after HPV vaccination .…”

Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of human papillomavirus-driven head and neck cancers

“…In animal models, vaccination was found to provide protection against oral infections and lesions of canine oral papillomavirus [22]. Studies have shown that HPV vaccination-induced high titres of type-specific antibodies in oral fluids (which include the saliva secreted by the salivary glands and the oral mucosal transudate that originates from the capillaries though the gingival mucosa) [23,24]. Moreover, these antibodies are able to neutralise HPV-pseudovirions in vitro, as recently demonstrated by Handisruya et al [24].…”

“…Studies have shown that HPV vaccination-induced high titres of type-specific antibodies in oral fluids (which include the saliva secreted by the salivary glands and the oral mucosal transudate that originates from the capillaries though the gingival mucosa) [23,24]. Moreover, these antibodies are able to neutralise HPV-pseudovirions in vitro, as recently demonstrated by Handisruya et al [24]. To date, only one study has evaluated the preventative potential of the HPV vaccine against oral HPV infections.…”

MucoJet: A novel oral microjet vaccination system

“…One development that may help in this effort is the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of the two‐dose HPV vaccine (Petrosky et al., ; https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6549a5.htm), which in theory would result in fewer office visits and more people being vaccinated because of reduced cost and improved efficiency of vaccine dose completion. Another development that may prove important is the recent finding that HPV vaccines induce neutralizing antibodies in oral fluids (Handisurya, Schellenbacher, Haitel, Senger, & Kirnbauer, ), which is suggestive that such vaccines could prevent infections in the oral mucosa and possibly oropharyngeal cancer later in life.…”