Efficient mother-to-child transfer of antiretroviral immunity in the context of preclinical monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy

L Gros, M Pelegrin, M Plays, M Piechaczyk - Journal of virology, 2006 - Am Soc Microbiol
L Gros, M Pelegrin, M Plays, M Piechaczyk
Journal of virology, 2006Am Soc Microbiol
When mice under the age of 5 to 6 days are infected, the FrCasE retrovirus induces a
neurodegenerative disease leading to death within 1 to 2 months. We have recently
reported that transient treatment with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) shortly after
infection, in addition to an expected immediate decrease in the viral load, also favors the
development of a strong protective immune response that persists long after the MAb has
been cleared. This observation may have important therapeutic consequences, as it …
Abstract
When mice under the age of 5 to 6 days are infected, the FrCasE retrovirus induces a neurodegenerative disease leading to death within 1 to 2 months. We have recently reported that transient treatment with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) shortly after infection, in addition to an expected immediate decrease in the viral load, also favors the development of a strong protective immune response that persists long after the MAb has been cleared. This observation may have important therapeutic consequences, as it suggests that MAbs might be used, not only as direct neutralizing agents, but also as immunomodulatory agents enabling patients to mount their own antiviral immune responses. We have investigated whether immunoglobulins from mothers who displayed a strong anti-FrCasE humoral response induced upon MAb treatment could affect both viremia and the immune systems of FrCasE-infected pups till adult age upon placental and/or breastfeeding transfer. The strongest effects, i.e., reduction in the viral load and induction of protective humoral antiviral responses, were observed upon breastfeeding alone and breastfeeding plus placental immunity transfer. However, placental transfer of anti-FrCasE antibodies was sufficient to both protect neonatally infected animals and help them initiate a neutralizing anti-FrCasE response. Also, administration of a neutralizing MAb to naive mothers during late gestation and breastfeeding could generate similar effects. Taken together, our data support the concept that passive immunotherapies during late gestation and/or breastfeeding might help retrovirally infected neonates prime their own protective immune responses, in addition to exerting an immediate antiviral effect.
American Society for Microbiology