3. Autoantibodies in HIV-infection
Autoantibodies can interact with antigens specific to their organism. Pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS involves several factors, not a single virus-controlled destruction of CD4
+ T cells
[82][104]; among various pathogenic mechanisms there is autoimmunity
[35] directed against lymphocytes
[83][84][85][105,106,107], platelets
[86][87][108,109] and peripheral nerves
[88][89][110,111]. Up to 40% of HIV-infected patients are positive for autoAbs against red blood cells
[90][91][112,113], which are involved in HIV-associated autoimmune hemolytic anemia
[92][93][114,115].
Circulating Abs to small nuclear ribonucleoproteins are presented in the serum of HIV-infected patients
[36]. Blood serum of HIV-infected patients contains Abs against anticardiolipin (aCL) and antiglycoprotein 1 (aβ2GP1), anti-DNA, and antinuclear Abs
[37][38][37,38]. Exact frequency of autoimmune manifestations and their pathogenesis during HIV-infection remain unknown. Still, it was shown that anti-aCL Abs among HIV-infected patients is much higher than among patients with autoimmune diseases
[94][116]. Content of these and similar Abs among HIV-infected patients before antiretroviral therapy ranges from 36% to 67%
[37][95][37,117]. The presence of anti-aCL Abs in blood serum is not associated with any clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome, and it is not easy to explain why
[96][118]. Moreover, spontaneous control of HIV replication or subsequent after antiretroviral therapy is associated with lower production of anti-aCL Abs
[97][98][119,120].
4. Catalytic Antibodies in HIV/AIDS
Autoimmune reactions and the appearance of autoAbs in HIV/AIDS and some other viral infections may be associated with the activation of polyclonal B cells, molecular mimicry between viral and/or microbial antigens and host antigens
[99][100][126,127], abnormal expression of immunoregulatory molecules, and anti-idiotypic network
[38][101][38,128]. One can propose several physiological functions of the hydrolysis of DNA, histones, and MBP by Abs.
ItWe is ssuggest
ed that the most relevant function of such catalytic Abs is the elimination of autoantigens formed due to the destruction of infected cells from the blood. However,
itwe cannot
be eexclude
d the possibility that such autoAbs may also explain some of the observed autoimmune pathologies found in patients with HIV/AIDS.
Activation of B-lymphocytes in HIV-infected patients leads to the production of Abs to viral components and autoAbs to various components of human cells
[38]. It has been shown that IgG and/or IgM of patients with AIDS hydrolyze not only autoantigens as DNA
[102][129], MBP
[41], histones
[40][103][104][105][40,130,131,132], but also viral enzymes HIV integrase
[42][43][106][107][42,43,133,134] and HIV reverse transcriptase
[39] and corresponding peptides. Interestingly, IgG of HIV-infected patients efficiently cleaves five human histones (H1
[41][103][41,130], H2a, H2b
[104][131], H3, and H4
[105][132]).
4.1. Catalytic Antibodies Cleave gp120
Hydrolysis of gp120 is possessed by V domains of the heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains of natural IgG, IgA, and IgM
[108][109][135,136]. A rare light chain of Abs, isolated by phage display, can bind and hydrolyze gp120 independently of the heavy chain
[110][137]. The most described Abs catalytic sites are located in the VL domains
[111][138].
Long-term HIV-infection for 5 years is associated with a modest increase in catalytic IgA against gp120
[109][136]. No accumulation of such Abs was observed at the earlier stages of disease (6 months)
[112][139].
4.2. Antibodies Hydrolyze HIV Integrase, Reverse Transcriptase, and Corresponding Oligopeptides
IgG and IgM were isolated from the blood serum of HIV-infected patients and subsequently separated on columns with immobilized reverse transcriptase or integrase, respectively, specifically hydrolyzed only recombinant viral reverse transcriptase
[39] or integrase
[42][43][42,43]. Abs that specifically hydrolyze these HIV enzymes were of potential interest in developing new anti-HIV-drugs for many years.
Nearly 40 sites of HIV integrase cleavage by Abs isolated from HIV-infected patients were found. Most sites are located in seven known immunodominant integrase sequences
[106][133]. Two 20 mer oligopeptides corresponding to immunogenic integrase sequences contained 9 to 10 clusters of major, moderate, and minor cleavage sites
[106][113][133,143]. Each individual Ab preparation from HIV-infected patients had a distinct ratio of hydrolysis sites
[106][133].
4.3. Antibodies Hydrolyze DNA, Histones, and Myelin Basic Protein
Relative DNase activity of Abs isolated from the blood serum of HIV-infected donors varies significantly from patient to patient, but 96% of the preparations show a detectable level of DNase activity
[102][129], which is an intrinsic feature of Abs
[39]. Abs against H1, H3, H4, and MBP possess enzymatic cross-reactivity
[114][151]: anti-histone H1 IgG hydrolyze H1 as well as MBP, and vice versa, anti-MBP Abs hydrolyze this H1 histone
[41]. Similarly, IgG against H2a and H2b histones efficiently hydrolyze these histones and MBP, and anti-MBP Abs cleave MBP, H2a, and H2b histones, but not other control proteins
[114][151]. Near 100% of IgG of HIV-infected patients effectively hydrolyze between one and five human histones
[40].
5. HIV-vaccines: Production of Neutralizing Antibodies
Current HIV prevention and treatment strategies include using antiretroviral drugs for pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy. This made it possible to transform HIV from a life-threatening disease to a manageable chronic disease
[115][156]. However, drugs are expensive, require strict dosing to be effective, and cause side effects. Some HIV-infected patients develop drug resistance; furthermore, drug access remains a significant barrier, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
HIV replicates chronically in the host and evades an Ab response, unlike other viral pathogens. Immunity evasion and large genetic variation among HIV strains are significant obstacles to vaccine development. The use of vaccines should provide generation of Abs that can adapt to the Env glycan screen and bind to various viral strains to offer complete protection
[116][117][158,159]. An ideal HIV-vaccine would elicit serum Abs that are highly effective and can prevent viral infection at low concentrations and have broad action—making a high percentage of hard-to-neutralize viruses inactive
[118][160].
5.1. HIV-vaccine Development Strategies
The induction of a protective Ab response remains the main priority in developing HIV-vaccines
[119][162]. Unfortunately, most current HIV-vaccine candidates do not elicit nAbs against most circulating viral strains. To replicate chronically in the host, the HIV uses several mechanisms to defend itself against Ab recognition: Env glycoprotein is protected by the shield of glycans. Different variations occur in immunodominant loops, and key viral epitopes are due to the conformational lability
[5][21][49][5,21,56] (
Figure 3). These defense mechanisms, although very effective, have vulnerabilities; information on the precise location and molecular structure of these vulnerable regions can be useful for the rational design of improved vaccine immunogens.
Figure 3. Several strategies are currently used to stimulate nAb responses towards bnAb generation, which consist of (A) directing of Ab response to conserved sites, for example, using fusion peptides; (B) use of mosaic or consensus antigens to overcome the viral diversity of circulating HIV worldwide; (C) clonal immunogens resembling the evolution of the virus in HIV-infected individuals modeling natural infection; (D) targeting immunogens to putative bnAb germline progenitors, followed by immunization leading to the affinity maturation pathway to bnAb developm€; (E) selective removing of glycans to focus Ab responses to a specific site of interest, such as CD4 binding site immunogens.
5.2. Immunogen Structure Design
HIV predominantly induces non-neutralizing or strain-specific Abs during the first months after infection
[5][57][5,70]. It was found that approximately 10–20% of HIV-infected patients had bNAbs after a few years of disease
[17][60][120][17,63,170], which is the humoral immune response that a vaccine should elicit.
Viral epitopes conserved among most viral strains are more likely to generate cross-reactive Abs. In this regard, research is focused on small numbers of human mAbs isolated from HIV-infected individuals that possess cross-reactive neutralizing activity
[49][121][56,81]. However, these conserved viral epitopes are weakly immunogenic or produce Abs with limited reactivity. Minor structural changes may improve specific binding
[20][122][20,67]. The crystal structure of b12 mAb bound to the CD4 receptor binding site of the gp120 molecule provides insight into how nAbs gain access to the functionally conserved regions of the Env glycoprotein
[34].
5.3. Vaccination Inducing Immune Response at Mucous Membranes
Mucosal tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and vagina are the main reservoirs for the initial replication and reproduction of HIV, as well as sites of rapid depletion of CD4
+ T cells
[123][182]. Such viral reservoirs are considered significant difficulties in eradicating HIV in infected hosts. A successful vaccine should prevent the creation of these reservoirs at a very early stage of HIV-infection
[124][183]. Protection of mucous membranes from HIV is mainly provided due to the Abs. Vaccination is not necessarily resulting in extremely high levels of nAb to protect the mucosal surface. Still, the Ab response must be robust, and nAb must cross-react with the genetically diverse spectra of HIV
[125][184].
5.4. Covalent Epitope-Based Vaccines
Although the virus mutates rapidly, it must retain specific surface protein epitopes to maintain its infectivity. Inducing a robust immune response against structurally conserved epitopes essential to the viral life cycle is a logical route to a vaccine development that will be effective worldwide and minimize the possibility of viral mutants’ escape. The target site should be expressed on the surface of free virions in a form that is sterically accessible to Abs. The main problem is that the vulnerable epitopes of HIV are weakly immunogenic. Peptide immunogens with sequences identical to the linear conserved epitopes of gp120 can be easily synthesized, but the conformation of such peptides may also differ from that of the native epitope.
5.5. HIV mRNA Vaccines
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic introduced the world to a new type of vaccine—mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. mRNA-based vaccines rely on the production of individual immunogens by the host cells, which in turn are targets for Ab responses and cytotoxic T cells
[126][206]. Traditional subunit vaccines deliver immunogens in a protein that degrades immediately after injection. In contrast, mRNA-based vaccines induce weekly production of immunogens in situ
[127][207], increasing the possibility that rare bnAb progenitor B cells will become activated and proliferate after immunization. Prolonged production of mRNA-encoded immunogens in vivo works much like antigen release via an osmotic pump. Slow antigen delivery increases the activity of the germinal center and the induction of HIV nAbs
[128][208].
6. Immune Exhaustion and Antibody Response
Immune exhaustion is the loss of effector functions and proliferative capacity of memory T cells
[129][219]. The process of immune exhaustion in the context of persistent viral infections was first described in a mouse model of lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV). It has been shown that LCMV-specific CD8
+ T cells are preserved during chronic infection but are not cytotoxic
[130][220]. Subsequently, T cell exhaustion has been described in patients with chronic viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C
[131][132][133][221,222,223].
Immune exhaustion was described for both CD8
+ and CD4
+ T cells
[134][135][224,225]. Antigen-specific exhaustion of effector and memory cells includes a gradual loss of effector function and proliferative capacity, which progress until such cells are eliminated
[136][226]. Exhausted CD8
+ T cells significantly differ from terminally differentiated or memory CD8
+ T cells: they secrete fewer cytokines and are characterized by cell surface expression of inhibitory receptors such as PD-1, CTLA4, Tim3, TIGIT, CD160, and LAG-3
[137][138][139][227,228,229]. Such surface expression of inhibitory receptors increases upon activation and limits the overactivation of T cells, providing the so-called immune checkpoints (IC)
[134][224].
7. COVID-19 and HIV-infection
There is little evidence on the contribution of HIV to previous epidemics of respiratory viruses. HIV is associated with a higher risk of severe respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza
[140][141][243,244]. However, the contribution of HIV-infection to outcomes during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic was unclear. There would be no substantial evidence that HIV-infected individuals were at increased risk of infection or had worse outcomes unless they were in advanced immunosuppression
[142][245]. HIV-infection was not associated with increased disease severity during previous SARS and MERS outbreaks; there were only a few reports of mild illness among people living with HIV
[143][144][246,247].
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has become the greatest threat to global health in the modern era. It should be recognized that HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 are completely different diseases with different modes of transmission and disease course. First, HIV spreads through body fluids, while COVID-19 is currently considered an acute airborne infection
[145][248]. People with chronic illnesses are at risk of relatively more severe COVID-19 symptoms, including those with weakened immune systems
[146][147][148][249,250,251]. Therefore, HIV-infected patients may experience heightened feelings of anxiety about being infected with COVID-19
[145][149][150][248,252,253]. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies immunocompromised people as high-risk, focusing on people living with uncontrolled HIV/AIDS.
7.1. Immunological Features of COVID-19 in HIV-infected Patients
If untreated, HIV-infection leads to a decrease in the CD4 T cell count, leading to AIDS. AIDS is defined as a CD4 cell count <200 cells/μL
[151][279]. If HIV-infection is controlled, the risk of serious complications from COVID-19, and therefore poor outcomes, is likely to be low. However, the same cannot be said for poorly controlled HIV-infection or AIDS
[152][280].
7.2. SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-vaccines
In the case of HIV, the virus integrates into the genome, forms a CD4
+ T cell reservoir, leading to chronic infection
[153][300]. The target of nAbs in the case of SARS-CoV-2 is the receptor-binding domain of the S-glycoprotein. Neutralizing Abs block the binding of SARS-CoV-2 virion to the Ace2-receptor
[154][155][156][301,302,303]. Abs neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 are easily formed in the body after COVID-19 infection or after vaccination
[157][158][159][304,305,306]; on the opposite, HIV can evade immunity and possess significant genetic variation among strains. This poses serious obstacles to vaccine development; the vaccine must produce Abs that can adapt to the Env glycan screen and bind to various viral strains to provide protection
[116][117][158,159].
8. Conclusions
The highest priority in HIV research remains the development of a preventive vaccine. Despite many years of attempts to develop a HIV-vaccine based on classical strategies, it has not been possible so far. The search for a vaccine is still ongoing. One of the main focuses of a preventive vaccine is the induction of protective immune responses in the early stages of HIV-infection. Among the main obstacles encountered in developing an effective vaccine are mutational variability and global viral diversity, making it easy to avoid cellular and humoral host responses. One of the goals of studying Abs in HIV-infection is to determine how to safely induce broadly reactive protective Abs against HIV. At the same time, such Abs should trigger a cascade of autoimmune reactions. Since HIV is transmitted primarily through mucous membranes, understanding antiviral immunity in mucosal sites is of great importance.
The first step in developing effective vaccines is understanding HIV evolutionary strategies. One of these strategies is the ability of HIV to suppress the adaptive immune response to vulnerable envelope epitopes, which must be maintained in the most conservative form since they are necessary to maintain the infectivity of the virus. Because of HIV ability to elude Ab responses, the vaccine must induce the production of multiple bNAbs that will target various conserved sites on the Env glycoprotein. Thus, several batches of immunogens may be required.
Various Abs against antigens were described in HIV, including autoAbs with catalytic activities. Biological functions of natural Abs in HIV-infection, and in the first place, polyreactive and autoAbs, have not been sufficiently studied. Thus, the task of analyzing natural and artificial Abs against HIV in the context of developing an HIV-vaccine is unlikely to be completed soon. When creating a vaccine against HIV, it is necessary to consider the design of the immunogen and the method of its delivery, and the production of nAbs and avoid the production of harmful autoAbs. Among the priorities is the solution of the following problems: generation of bNAbs after vaccination and production of monoclonal bNAbs with broad prospects for therapeutic use.