Humoral immune responses to the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) in the genital tract compared to other mucosal sites

Macrophages in Vaginal but Not Intestinal Mucosa Are Monocyte-Like and Permissive to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

“…The differences in phenotype and HIV-1 permissiveness between vaginal and intestinal macrophages reported here may therefore reflect differences in the local microenvironment, since mucosa-derived cytokines, including transforming growth factor ␤, regulate the phenotype and function of blood monocytes after their recruitment to the mucosa, at least in the intestinal mucosa (51). Importantly, despite their likely common embryological origin, the genital and intestinal tracts display an array of distinct features relevant to HIV-1 infection (26). In the genital tract, immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the dominant immunoglobulin isotype but, in the gut, IgA is the main immunoglobulin isotype (27,38).…”

Mucosal Immunization of Lactating Female Rhesus Monkeys with a Transmitted/Founder HIV-1 Envelope Induces Strong Env-Specific IgA Antibody Responses in Breast Milk

“…Although secretory IgA (sIgA) is the most abundant antibody isotype in mucosal compartments, only low levels of HIV-specific IgA antibodies are present in mucosal secretions of HIV-infected patients (56,60). Similarly, the HIV Env-specific antibody response in milk of HIV-infected lactating women is predominantly IgG (17,61).…”

Mucosal Immune Regulation: Does it Help Thwart HIV?

“…Compared to the GALT, the female genital compartment harbours IgG as the dominant antibody isotype. In the FGT, IgG and IgA originate from blood circulation and local production (reviewed by [93]) and functional capacity of IgA to neutralize HIV-1 and block trancytosis across the epithelium has been demonstrated [94,95]. However, the protective role of cervical IgA in HIV acquisition remains controversial.…”