Nonneutralizing antibodies are able to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in macrophages and immature dendritic cells.

Only five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) neutralizing a broad range of primary isolates (PI) have been identified up to now. We have found that some MAbs with no neutralizing activities according to the "conventional" neutralization assay, involving phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells as targets, efficiently inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) PI in macrophages and immature dendritic cells (iDC). The mechanism of inhibition is distinct from the neutralization of infectivity occurring via Fab fragments and involves the interaction of the F portion with the FcgammaRs present on macrophages and iDC. We propose that, if such nonneutralizing inhibitory antibodies limit mucosal HIV transmission, they should be induced by vaccination.