Type-specific antiviral antibodies to genital human papillomavirus types in mothers and newborns

Reprod Sci. 2007 Dec;14(8):806-14. doi: 10.1177/1933719107309546.

Abstract

Type-specific antibodies to human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can be detected in most infected adult patients, and they have virus-neutralizing properties. However, there is a dearth of information on the seroprevalence of maternal and neonatal antibodies to HPV capsid antigens. Sera from 104 mothers, their newborns, and 3 twin pregnancies were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to virus-like particles of HPV-6, -11, -16, -18, and -31. Maternal IgG positivity rates to HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, and 31 were 23.1%, 2.9%, 8.7%, 5.8%, and 9.6%, respectively. Neonatal rates did not differ significantly, and individual IgG ELISA values of mothers and their infants and all paired twins showed a very high correlation. In contrast, nearly all IgM and IgA individual values in newborns were designated negative, whereas mothers' positivity rates ranged as high as 19.2%. Infants showed no HPV-related lesions at birth or at 4-year follow-up. Seven of 8 tested children lost IgG HPV antibodies in a follow-up examination. Similar anti-HPV IgG seropositivity in mothers and newborns and a lack of neonatal IgA and IgM together with twin and follow-up results indicate that neonatal IgG is not a sign of intrauterine HPV infection but, rather, maternofetal antibody transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Papillomaviridae / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral