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Antienvelope antibodies are protective against GBV‐C reinfection: Evidence from the liver transplant model
Author(s) -
Hassoba Howayda M.,
Pessoa Mario G.,
Terrault Norah A.,
Lewis Nancy J.,
Hayden Mark,
Hunt Jeffrey C.,
Qiu Xiaoxing,
Lou Sheng C.,
Wright Teresa L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199811)56:3<253::aid-jmv13>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - virology , antibody , immunology , medicine , biology
An assay for the detection of antibody against the second envelope (E2) protein of GB virus type C (GBV‐C) has been developed. Early reports suggested that this antibody was a marker of viral clearance, yet it is unknown whether anti‐E2 is protective against further GBV‐C infection. The primary aims were to determine (1) if posttransplantation immunosuppression alters the prevalence of anti‐E2; and (2) if anti‐E2 positivity pretransplantation protects against acquisition of GBV‐C infection posttransplantation. Fifty‐four recipients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for end‐stage liver disease of nonviral etiologies were tested for GBV‐C RNA using a PCR‐based assay and anti‐E2 antibodies by an enzyme‐linked immunoassay. Anti‐E2 was present in 35% and in 46% of patients pre‐ and posttransplantation, respectively. Anti‐E2 positivity pretransplantation was strongly associated with anti‐E2 positivity after transplantation ( P < 0.001); 83% of patients with anti‐E2 prior to transplantation remained anti‐E2–positive after transplantation. A negative association between presence of GBV‐C viremia and presence of anti‐E2 was found in all patients tested either prior to or following transplantation ( P = 0.03). Acquisition of GBV‐C infection was significantly lower in patients who were anti‐E2–positive prior to transplantation (2/13) compared to those who were antiE2–negative (12/26) ( P = 0.05). It is concluded that immunosuppression does not reduce the prevalence of anti‐E2 after transplantation in those who are seroreactive prior to transplantation. Anti‐E2 appears to be a neutralizing antibody whose presence at the time of liver transplantation protects against acquisition of GBV‐C infection in the peritransplantation period. J. Med. Virol. 56:253–258, 1998 . © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.