Open AccessCytomegalovirus‐specific antibodies to an immediate early antigen and a late membrane antigen and their possible role in controlling secondary cytomegalovirus infection
Author(s) -
ZANTEN J.,
GIESSEN M.,
VOORT L. H. M.,
SON W. J.,
BIJ W.,
THE T. H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05596.x
Subject(s) - cytomegalovirus , antigen , immunology , antibody , betaherpesvirinae , virology , immune system , biology , monoclonal antibody , panel reactive antibody , herpesviridae , virus , viral disease , human leukocyte antigen
SUMMARY In 24 renal transplant recipients who had a secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, the magnitude and development of CMV‐specific antibodies directed against two different antigens were studied in relation to the presence of CMV‐immediate early antigen‐positive peripheral blood leucocytes (CMV antigenaemia). These antibodies were measured in an antigen‐capture ELISA using two monoclonal antibodies: one directed against the major immediate early antigen (IEA) and a second one directed against the CMV‐encoded glycoprotein B (gB). A statistically significant inverse relationship between the level of anti‐IEA antibodies present at the time of transplantation as well as the magnitude of the increase of these antibodies during CMV infection and the maximum number of IEA‐positive cells during infection was shown. In contrast, both anti‐gB and anti‐total CMV antibodies did not give any correlation with the CMV antigenaemia. This may indicate that the anti‐IEA immune response plays a role in defence mechanisms against a CMV infection.