The Presence and Anti-HIV-1 Function of Tenascin C in Breast Milk and Genital Fluids

PLoS One. 2016 May 16;11(5):e0155261. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155261. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Tenascin-C (TNC) is a newly identified innate HIV-1-neutralizing protein present in breast milk, yet its presence and potential HIV-inhibitory function in other mucosal fluids is unknown. In this study, we identified TNC as a component of semen and cervical fluid of HIV-1-infected and uninfected individuals, although it is present at a significantly lower concentration and frequency compared to that of colostrum and mature breast milk, potentially due to genital fluid protease degradation. However, TNC was able to neutralize HIV-1 after exposure to low pH, suggesting that TNC could be active at low pH in the vaginal compartment. As mucosal fluids are complex and contain a number of proteins known to interact with the HIV-1 envelope, we further studied the relationship between the concentration of TNC and neutralizing activity in breast milk. The amount of TNC correlated only weakly with the overall innate HIV-1-neutralizing activity of breast milk of uninfected women and negatively correlated with neutralizing activity in milk of HIV-1 infected women, indicating that the amount of TNC in mucosal fluids is not adequate to impede HIV-1 transmission. Moreover, the presence of polyclonal IgG from milk of HIV-1 infected women, but not other HIV-1 envelope-binding milk proteins or monoclonal antibodies, blocked the neutralizing activity of TNC. Finally, as exogenous administration of TNC would be necessary for it to mediate measurable HIV-1 neutralizing activity in mucosal compartments, we established that recombinantly produced TNC has neutralizing activity against transmitted/founder HIV-1 strains that mimic that of purified TNC. Thus, we conclude that endogenous TNC concentration in mucosal fluids is likely inadequate to block HIV-1 transmission to uninfected individuals.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Cervix Uteri / immunology
  • Extracellular Fluid / immunology*
  • Female
  • Genitalia*
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Male
  • Milk Proteins / immunology*
  • Milk Proteins / pharmacology
  • Milk, Human / immunology*
  • Mucous Membrane / immunology
  • Mucous Membrane / metabolism
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Semen / immunology
  • Tenascin / immunology*
  • Tenascin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321)
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Milk Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tenascin