Serum IgG, IgM, and IgA reactivity to human papillomavirus types 11 and 6 virus-like particles in different gynecologic patient groups

Serum samples from several groups of patients attending a gynecology clinic were analyzed by ELISA for specific antibodies recognizing surface epitopes on intact human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) that were synthesized in vitro. In these samples, positive IgG and IgM reactivities to HPV-11 L1 VLPs were, respectively, 12% and 6% for 87 controls, 46% and 67% for 79 condyloma patients, 30% and 64% for 72 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia patients, 16% and 19% for 63 pregnant women at time of delivery, and 5% and 0 in their 63 newborns. IgA reactivities were low and not significantly different. The prevalence of IgG-positivity in HPV-6/11 DNA-positive patients increased from 46% with HPV-11 L1 VLPs to 76% when the sera were additionally screened with HPV-6 L1 VLPs. These data show that HPV-6 and -11 L1 VLPs are effective antigens for serologic studies and they detect type-specific antibodies.