HIV-1 transfer from monocytes-derived macrophages to peripheral blood lymphocytes is efficiently inhibited by neutralizing antibodies

PROUST, A; SCHMIDT, S; LAMBOTIN, M; PERESSIN, M; BIEDMA, M.E; SU, B; DECOVILLE, T; LAUMOND, G; MOOG, C

Encuentro; Journées Scientifiques de la Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg; 2013

Infection by genital tract is the major mode of HIV-1 transmission worldwide. Macrophages, present in genital mucosal tracts, are among the first immune cells facing the virus. In addition to their capacity to replicate HIV-1, it has been recently shown that macrophages are involved in HIV-1 transmission. Here we investigate the activity of monoclonal neutralizing (mNAbs) and non-neutralizing inhibitory (mNNIAbs) antibodies on HIV-1 transfer from primary monocytes-derived macrophages (MDMs) to autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs).Using flow cytometry analysis for detection of HIV replication, we showed that mNAbs were able to prevent HIV-1 transfer from MDMs to PBLs. Moreover, the mNAbs and MNNIAbs inhibited the virus which is not entered in MDMs and viral particles reinfecting these cells, even though, these antibodies were unable to inhibit virus that had already fused to MDMs.Overall, our results indicate that monoclonal neutralizing and non-neutralizing inhibitory antibodies are able to efficiently inhibit the replication of HIV-1 and newly produced viral particles reinfecting the MDMs in the conditions of coculture. Furthermore, they suggest that monoclonal neutralizing antibodies, if induce rapidly at the mucosal site of the genital tract, could prevent HIV-1 trans- and cis-infection of peripheral blood lymphocytes.