title: Detection of varicella-zoster virus-specific IgA antibodies in varicella and zoster patients and in healthy adults of various ages by solid-phase radioimmunoassay.
abstract: The varicella-zoster virus(VZV)-specific serum immunoglobulin A(IgA) response was studied in varicella and zoster patients and in healthy adults of various ages by a sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay technique. Significant rises in VZV-specific IgA titer were found for both varicella and zoster patients, while VZV-specific IgA was also detected in greater than 90% of healthy adults but at lower titers. No significant decrease in VZV-specific IgA titer with increasing age was found. The role of humoral versus cell-mediated immunity in VZV reactivation is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007070:Immunoglobulin A