Immunoglobulin genes influence the magnitude of humoral immunity to cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B

J Infect Dis. 2014 Dec 1;210(11):1823-6. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu367. Epub 2014 Jun 27.

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a risk factor for many human diseases, but among exposed individuals, not everyone is equally likely to develop HCMV-spurred diseases, implying the presence of host genetic factors that might modulate immunity to this virus. Here, we show that antibody responsiveness to HCMV glycoprotein B (gB) is significantly associated with particular immunoglobulin GM (γ marker) genotypes. Anti-HCMV gB antibody levels were highest in GM 17/17 homozygotes, intermediate in GM 3/17 heterozygotes, and lowest in GM 3/3 homozygotes (28.2, 19.0, and 8.1 µg/mL, respectively; P=.014). These findings provide mechanistic insights in the etiopathogenesis of HCMV-spurred diseases.

Keywords: GM allotypes; candidate genes; glycoprotein B; human cytomegalovirus; humoral immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / genetics*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral*
  • Immunoglobulin Allotypes / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Allotypes / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin Allotypes
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus