IgG subclass profiles in infected HIV type 1 controllers and chronic progressors and in uninfected recipients of Env vaccines

We have studied IgG subclass responses to the HIV-1 proteins gp120, gp41, p24, and Tat in individuals who control their infection without using antiretroviral drugs (HIV-1 controllers; HC) or who progress to disease (chronic progressors; CP). We also measured IgG subclass titers to gp120 in vaccinated individuals. In all cases, the IgG1 subclass dominated the overall response to each antigen. The only IgG titer that differed significantly between the HC and CP groups was to the p24 Gag protein, which was higher in the HC group. IgG1 titers to both p24 and gp120 were significantly higher in the HC group, and IgG3 anti-gp120 antibodies, although rare, were detected more frequently in that group than in CP. Overall, significantly more patients had IgG2 antibodies to gp120 than to gp41. Antibodies to other IgG subclasses were infrequent and their frequency or titers did not differ between the two patient groups. Anti-gp41 and anti-Tat responses also did not correlate with immune control, and anti-Tat antibodies were infrequently detected. Although we found isotypic differences in IgG responses to HIV-1 antigens among vaccinees and the HC and CP individuals, there were no indications of differential T(H)1:T(H)2 polarization between the different groups.