Age-Dependent Evaluation of Immunoglobulin G Response after Chikungunya Virus Infection

Current chikungunya antibody prevalence and titers are likely to differ based on the exposure rates before the 2006 reemergence in India. For vaccine usage, such data are of immense importance. This study addresses age-stratified IgG titers and its subtypes in Pune, India, endemic for the disease. 170 age-stratified serum pools from 791 individuals with prior chikungunya exposure, and 15 samples from acute disease phase were analyzed. An indirect ELISA based on inactivated chikungunya virus was used to determine anti-CHIKV-IgG and its subtypes. Neutralizing antibody titers (plaque reduction neutralization test [PRNT]) were compared with binding antibody titers (ELISA). Anti-CHIKV-IgG titers along with IgG1 and IgG4 increased till the age-group of until 11-15 years and remained comparable thereafter till > 65 years. IgG1 was the predominant IgG subtype detected in all the pools, whereas IgG4 was present in 151/170 pools. Strong positive correlation of IgG1 was obtained with CHIKV-PRNT50 titers. None of the sample had anti-CHIKV-IgG2, whereas five pools had IgG3 antibody. In the acute-phase serum sample, IgG1 was present in all the samples, whereas IgG4 was present in 8/15 samples. IgG4 was predominant in four samples. During acute phase and at different times postinfection, IgG1 circulated in high titers followed by IgG4. Higher antibody titers in adults reflect reexposures. The data will prove useful in assessing immune response to CHIKV vaccine in relation to IgG subtype.