Fc-mediated immunological mechanisms in HIV infection: a better understanding for improved therapeutic approaches

This review summarizes recent insights into Fc-mediated immunological mechanisms in viral infections with particular focus in HIV-1 infection. It highlights the versatility of Fc-mediated antibody functions, specially through interactions with Fc receptors (FcRs). The aim is to highlight the importance of Fc-specific properties and their role in mediating distinct effector and immunomodulatory functions.

Recent studies highlight the importance of specific IgG isotypes, Fc-point mutations, Fc-glycosylation and FcR-expressing NK cell subsets in driving efficient Fc-mediated control of viral infections. They show the superiority of IgG3 and afucosylated antibodies in mediating efficient effector functions such as complement- and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (CDC, ADCC) as well as antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) in a cell-dependent manner. Furthermore, these studies identify novel Fc mutants with selective FcR binding, enabling more precise harnessing of effector functions.

Multiple Fc-mediated immune functions of antibodies are crucial for controlling viral spread and eliciting host immune responses. A deeper understanding of antibody interactions with immune actors is key for developing innovative vaccine designs and enhanced antibody-based immunotherapies. The challenge now is to leverage the diverse Fc-mediated antiviral mechanisms to develop optimized therapeutic strategies that not only hinder viral spread but also strengthen protective immunity.