Cytomegalovirus-specific antibodies to an immediate early antigen and a late membrane antigen and their possible role in controlling secondary cytomegalovirus infection.
In 24 renal transplant recipients who had a secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, the magnitude and development of CMV-specific antibodies directed against two different antigens were studied in relation to the presence of CMV-immediate early antigen-positive peripheral blood leucocytes (CMV antigenaemia). These antibodies were measured in an antigen-capture ELISA using two monoclonal antibodies: one directed against the major immediate early antigen (IEA) and a second one directed against the CMV-encoded glycoprotein B (gB). A statistically significant inverse relationship between the level of anti-IEA antibodies present at the time of transplantation as well as the magnitude of the increase of these antibodies during CMV infection and the maximum number of IEA-positive cells during infection was shown. In contrast, both anti-gB and anti-total CMV antibodies did not give any correlation with the CMV antigenaemia. This may indicate that the anti-IEA immune response plays a role in defence mechanisms against a CMV infection.
van Zanten
J
J
Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van der Giessen
M
M
van der Voort
L H
LH
van Son
W J
WJ
van der Bij
W
W
The
T H
TH
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus; C044582:immediate-early proteins, cytomegalovirus