Title:Orchestrating HIV Neutralization by Secondary Immune Response- Mediated Induction of RF Antibodies
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Author(s): Konstantin V. Suslov
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Rheumatoid factor, immune complexes, neutralization-enhancing RF antibodies, NeRFa, HIV, repeated
immunization, HIV vaccine, dexamethasone.
Abstract: Antibody-dependent enhancement of infection is among the main challenges for HIV vaccines.
Neutralization-enhancing RF antibodies (NeRFa) arising against immune complexes during secondary
immune response not only enhance the action of neutralizing antibodies but also make infectionenhancing
antibodies neutralizing in a sensitized virus. NeRFa represent the oldest type of immune
response since it protects a fetus with unformed immune system from maternally acquired infections.
Vaccination with HIV gp120 glycoprotein each 3 weeks may be a strategy to induce NeRFa both in
prophylactic and therapeutic immunizations. Twenty-fold reduction in amount of protein for secondary
immunization is important for an optimal induction of NeRFa. Auto-vaccination via transient immune
suppression with dexamethasone might be a promising way to induce NeRFa in HIV-infected patients.
