title: The decoy Fcγ receptor encoded by the cytomegalovirus UL119-UL118 gene has differential affinity to IgG proteins expressing different GM allotypes.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus that has been implicated in many diseases. However, there is significant divergence between HCMV seroprevalence and the prevalence of HCMV-associated diseases, implying the presence of host genetic factors that might modulate immunity to this virus. HCMV deploys many sophisticated strategies to evade host immunosurveillance. One strategy involves encoding for proteins that have functional properties of the Fcγ receptor (FcγR). The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the UL119-UL118-encoded recombinant FcγR ectodomain binds differentially to genetically disparate IgG1 proteins. Results show that mean absorbance values for binding of HCMV UL119-UL118-encoded Fcγ receptor to the immunoglobulin GM (γ marker) 1,17-expressing IgG1 were significantly higher than to the IgG1 expressing the allelic GM 3 allotype (0.225 vs. 0.151; p=0.039). These findings suggest possible mechanisms underlying the maintenance of immunoglobulin GM gene polymorphism and its putative role in the etiology of HCMV-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: pandeyj@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Janardan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Aryan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Namboodiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Faisal F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nietert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C464820:UL119-UL118 glycoprotein, Human cytomegalovirus; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Decoy Fcγ receptor; GM allotypes; Human cytomegalovirus; Immunoevasion