F. Mascartlemone et al., DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION ON THE IGA AND IGG ANTIBODY-RESPONSES TO PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE, The Journal of infectious diseases, 172(5), 1995, pp. 1253-1260
The IgA,IgM, and IgG antibody responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide
vaccine were analyzed in 35 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients stratified according to
their CD4 cell counts and in 12 healthy controls. Both the antibody t
iters in serum and saliva and the numbers of circulating antigen-speci
fic antibody-producing cells (Elispot technique) were measured. At the
peak of the antibody responses, HIV-infected patients mounted nearly
normal IgG responses, while their IgM responses were significantly dep
ressed, regardless of their CD4 cell counts. The IgA antibody response
was decreased in patients with < 500 CD4 circulating cells/mm(3). Mos
t IgG antibodies belonged to the IgG2 subclass, and most IgA antibodie
s were dimeric IgA2 in both controls and patients. Anti-capsular pneum
ococcal polysaccharide IgG titers decreased much more rapidly in HIV-i
nfected patients so that in all groups they were significantly lower t
han in controls 9 months after vaccination.