title: Neutralization of cytomegalovirus virions: the role of complement.
abstract: Complement provides a key immunologic defense against invading pathogens; thus, a clear understanding of the interactions between cytomegalovirus (CMV) and complement may permit the development of strategies to enhance CMV neutralization. In the presence of specific anti-CMV antibodies, complement enhanced the neutralizing ability of serum by 2- to 3-fold. However, in the absence of specific anti-CMV antibodies, complement was ineffective in neutralizing CMV virions by plaque assay. Although complement alone did not mediate any neutralizing effect, CMV consumed complement activity from seronegative serum, resulting in the deposition of C3 on the virion. However, only in the presence of specific anti-CMV antibody did complement activation continue to the deposition of C9 on the virions. These results strongly suggest complement regulation by CMV virions that is modulated by anti-CMV antibody; this regulation may be attributed to three host complement regulators on the virions: CD55, CD46, and CD59.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, and Canadian Red Cross Society Blood Services, Vancouver Center.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tufaro
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003186:Complement C9 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003176:Complement C3; D003186:Complement C9; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins