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Published on: March 8, 2012
Maternal HPV-antibodies and seroconversion to HPV in children during the first 3 years of life
Stina Syrjänen1,2, Tim Waterboer3, Marjut Rintala4
1Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, 20520, Turku, Finland. stina.syrjanen@utu.fi.
Insights
Maternal antibodies protect infants from human papillomavirus (HPV) for six months. Infants show seroconversion to HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, indicating an early immune response.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are common globally.
- Understanding HPV serology dynamics in infants is crucial for vaccination strategies.
- Maternal antibody transfer plays a role in early infant immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of human papillomavirus (HPV) serology in infants up to 36 months of age.
- To assess the duration and impact of maternal HPV antibodies in newborns.
- To identify factors influencing HPV seroconversion in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Serial serum samples from 276 mother-infant pairs were collected from birth to 36 months.
- Infant and maternal serum samples were tested for HPV6, 11, 16, 18, and 45 L1 antibodies using the GST-L1 assay.
- Statistical analysis was performed to determine antibody concordance, seroconversion rates, and predictors.
Main Results:
- Maternal HPV antibodies were detectable in infants for up to 6 months.
- Between 1-3 years, 53% of infants born to HPV-seronegative mothers seroconverted to HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.
- Infant seroconversion to low-risk HPV types was associated with hand warts and maternal history of oral warts.
Conclusions:
- Maternal IgG antibodies provide passive immunity against HPV for the first 6 months of life.
- Infants mount their own immune response to HPV, leading to seroconversion in early childhood.
- Further research is needed to identify predictors for high-risk HPV seroconversion in infants.
Abstract:
To assess the dynamics of human papillomavirus (HPV) serology, we analyzed HPV6-,11-,16-,18-, and 45 antibodies in infants during the first 36 months of their life. Serial serum samples of 276/327 mother-child pairs were collected at baseline (mothers) and at months 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 36 (offspring), and tested for HPVL1-antibodies using the GST-L1 assay. Concordance between maternal and infant HPV-antibody levels remained high until month-6 (p < = 0.001), indicating maternal antibody transfer. At 1 month, 40-62% of the infants tested seropositive to any of the 5 HPV-types. Between 1-3 years of age, 53% (58/109) of the children born to HPV-seronegative mothers tested HPV-seropositive. Times to positive seroconversion varied between13.4 and 18.7 months, and times to negative seroconversion (decay) between 8.5 and 9.9 months. Significant independent predictors of infants' seroconversion to LR-HPV were hand warts and mother's history of oral warts and seroconversion to LR-HPV. No predictors of seroconversion to HR-HPV were identified. Maternal HPV-IgG-antibodies are transferred to her offspring and remain detectable for 6 months, corroborating the IgG molecule's half-life. Seroconversion to HPV-genotypes 6, 11, 16 and 18 was confirmed among children born to HPV-seronegative mothers, implicating an immune response to these HPV-genotypes during early infancy.
