Differences in the Binding Affinity of an HIV-1 V2 Apex-Specific Antibody for the SIV$_{\textrm{smm/Mac}}$ Envelope Glycoprotein Uncouple Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity from Neutralization

Abstract

As a consequence of their independent evolutionary origins in apes and Old World monkeys, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency viruses of the SIV$_{\textrm{smm/Mac}}$ lineage express phylogenetically and antigenically distinct envelope glycoproteins. Thus, HIV-1 Env-specific antibodies do not typically cross-react with the Env proteins of SIV$_{\textrm{smm/Mac}}$ isolates. Here we show that PGT145, a broadly neutralizing antibody to a quaternary epitope at the V2 apex of HIV-1 Env, directs the lysis of SIVsmm/mac-infected cells by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) but does not neutralize SIV$_{\textrm{smm/Mac}}$ infectivity. Amino acid substitutions in the V2 loop of SIV$_{\textrm{mac}}$239 corresponding to the epitope for PGT145 in HIV-1 Env modulate sensitivity to this antibody. Whereas a substitution in a conserved N-linked glycosylation site (N171Q) eliminates sensitivity to ADCC, a lysine-to-serine substitution in this region (K180S) increases ADCC and renders the virus susceptible to neutralization. These differences in function correlate with an increase in the affinity of PGT145 binding to Env on the surface of virus-infected cells and to soluble Env trimers. To our knowledge, this represents the first instance of an HIV-1 Env-specific antibody that cross-reacts with SIV$_{\textrm{smm/Mac}}$ Env and illustrates how differences in antibody binding affinity for Env can differentiate sensitivity to ADCC from neutralization. IMPORTANCE Here we show that PGT145, a potent broadly neutralizing antibody to HIV-1, directs the lysis of SIV-infected cells by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity but does not neutralize SIV infectivity. This represents the first instance of cross-reactivity of an HIV-1 Env-specific antibody with SIV$_{\textrm{smm/Mac}}$ Env and reveals that antibody binding affinity can differentiate sensitivity to ADCC from neutralization.