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Influence of C4B null genes on cytomegalovirus antibody titers in healthy blood donors
Author(s) -
Moulds J.M.,
DeJongh R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1992.32292180143.x
Subject(s) - antibody , titer , cytomegalovirus , immunology , betaherpesvirinae , virology , serology , human cytomegalovirus , biology , antibody titer , viral disease , herpesviridae , virus , medicine
C4B null genes ( C4B*QO ) have been found with increased frequency in persons with viral diseases, including hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Whether a relationship might exist between the presence of C4B*QO and antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was investigated. Fifty blood donors who were seropositive for CMV antibodies and 101 healthy nondonors were C4‐allotyped with electrophoresis immmunofixation. CMV‐seropositive sera were titrated for CMV IgG‐specific antibody by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and serum IgG levels were assayed by rate nephelometry. C4B*QO was higher in the CMV antibody‐positive group than in nondonors (p = 0.05), but the increase was most significant (p = 0.028) in donors with the highest titers of CMV antibodies. There was poor correlation (r = 0.015) between CMV titers and plasma IgG levels. Serum C4B levels were lower in CMV antibody‐positive donors with one C4B null gene than in matched nondonors or nondonors not having any null genes.