HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 P24 ANTIGEN IN CERVICOVAGINAL SECRETIONS

The failure to detect human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen in ce rvicovaginal secretions (CVS) from HIV-infected women could be due in part to an in situ formation of immune complexes involving HIV antigen s and cervicovaginal anti-HIV antibodies, CVS from 30 HIV-1-infected h eterosexual women were assayed for p24 antigen detection by ELISA befo re and after acid disruption of immune complexes, Before acid treatmen t, free p24 antigen was detected in only 1 sample of CVS, whereas afte r acid dissociation, 4 (13.5%) of 30 samples had detectable and neutra lizable p24 antigen, Adsorbent capacities of the CVS for recombinant p 24 antigen, evaluated in an in vitro model, depended on both titer and avidity of cervicovaginal antibodies to HIV. In conclusion, local ant ibodies to HIV are able in vivo to bind HIV antigen within CVS and to participate in the immune exclusion of free virus particles or protein s.