Saliva can mediate HIV-1-specific antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

HIV is not usually transmitted by saliva from HIV-1-infected individuals. Antiviral substances in saliva responsible for this may include HIV-1-specific antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). We evaluated saliva ADCC titers of 62 HIV-1-infected women from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) and 55 uninfected individuals.