AUTHOR=Alonso Selena , Vidal Marta , Ruiz-Olalla Gemma , González Raquel , Manaca M. Nelia , Jairoce Chenjerai , Vázquez-Santiago Miquel , Balcells Reyes , Vala Anifa , Rupérez María , Cisteró Pau , Fuente-Soro Laura , Cova Marta , Angov Evelina , Nhacolo Arsenio , Sevene Esperança , Aponte John J. , Macete Eusebio , Aguilar Ruth , Mayor Alfredo , Menéndez Clara , Dobaño Carlota , Moncunill Gemma TITLE=Reduced Placental Transfer of Antibodies Against a Wide Range of Microbial and Vaccine Antigens in HIV-Infected Women in Mozambique JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.614246 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.614246 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

Transplacental transfer of antibodies is essential for conferring protection in newborns against infectious diseases. We assessed the impact of different factors, including gestational age and maternal infections such as HIV and malaria, on the efficiency of cord blood levels and placental transfer of IgG subclasses. We measured total IgG and IgG subclasses by quantitative suspension array technology against 14 pathogens and vaccine antigens, including targets of maternal immunization, in 341 delivering HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected mother-infant pairs from southern Mozambique. We analyzed the association of maternal HIV infection, Plasmodium falciparum exposure, maternal variables and pregnancy outcomes on cord antibody levels and transplacental transfer. Our results show that maternal antibody levels were the main determinant of cord antibody levels. Univariable and multivariable analysis showed that HIV reduced the placental transfer and cord levels of IgG and IgG1 principally, but also IgG2 to half of the antigens tested. P. falciparum exposure and prematurity were negatively associated with cord antibody levels and placental transfer, but this was antigen-subclass dependent. Our findings suggest that lower maternally transferred antibodies may underlie increased susceptibility to infections of HIV-exposed infants. This could affect efficacy of maternal vaccination, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a high prevalence of HIV, malaria and unfavorable environmental factors.