CERVICAL-MUCUS ANTIBODIES AGAINST HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16, TYPE-18, AND TYPE-33 CAPSIDS IN RELATION TO PRESENCE OF VIRAL-DNA

To investigate whether cervical mucus antibodies against human papillo mavirus (HPV) capsids are associated with the detection of HPV DNA or HPV-related cytological diagnoses, 611 samples of cervical secretions from 359 women referred to a colposcopy clinic were tested by an enzym e-linked immunosorbent assay for the presence of immunoglobulin A (IgA ) antibodies against HPV capsids of HPV type 16, 18, or 33 and for the presence of cervical HPV DNA by PCR. Among subjects with at least one cervical sample positive for HPV type 16 (HPV-16) DNA, 28.1% also had at least one HPV-16 IgA-positive cervical sample (odds ratio [OR] = 2 .9; P = 0.0003). IgA to HPV-18 was also more common among HPV-18 DNA-p ositive subjects (OR = 3.1; P = 0.0325) and IgA to HPV-33 was more com mon among HPV-33 DNA-positive subjects (OR = 4.2; P = 0.0023). Cervica l IgA antibodies to HPV-16 were also more common among patients with c ervical intraepithelial neoplasia, particularly among patients with ce rvical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I (P < 0.0005). The data indica te that an HPV type-restricted IgA antibody response against HPV capsi ds is detectable in cervical mucus and is associated with a concomitan t cervical HPV infection.