TY - JOUR
T1 - Fetal Human Cytomegalovirus Transmission Correlates with Delayed Maternal Antibodies to gH/gL/pUL128-130-131 Complex during Primary Infection
AU - Lilleri, Daniele
AU - Kabanova, Anna
AU - Revello, Maria Grazia
AU - Percivalle, Elena
AU - Sarasini, Antonella
AU - Genini, Emilia
AU - Sallusto, Federica
AU - Lanzavecchia, Antonio
AU - Corti, Davide
AU - Gerna, Giuseppe
PY - 2013/3/29
Y1 - 2013/3/29
N2 - Primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections during pregnancy are associated with a high risk of virus transmission to the fetus. To identify correlates of intrauterine HCMV transmission, serial serum samples from HCMV transmitter and non-transmitter pregnant women with primary HCMV infection were analyzed for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against different glycoproteins and glycoprotein complexes, which are known to mediate entry into distinct types of host cells. Neutralizing activity was detected in the sera early after primary infection; absorption with a soluble pentameric complex formed by gH/gL/pUL128-131, but not with gH/gL dimer or with gB, abolished the capacity of sera to neutralize infection of epithelial cells. Importantly, an early, high antibody response to pentamer antigenic sites was associated with a significantly reduced risk of HCMV transmission to the fetus. This association is consistent with the high in vitro inhibition of HCMV infection of epithelial/endothelial cells as well as cell-to-cell spreading and virus transfer to leukocytes by anti-pentamer antibodies. Taken together, these findings indicate that the HCMV pentamer complex is a major target of the antibody-mediated maternal immunity.
AB - Primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections during pregnancy are associated with a high risk of virus transmission to the fetus. To identify correlates of intrauterine HCMV transmission, serial serum samples from HCMV transmitter and non-transmitter pregnant women with primary HCMV infection were analyzed for the presence of neutralizing antibodies against different glycoproteins and glycoprotein complexes, which are known to mediate entry into distinct types of host cells. Neutralizing activity was detected in the sera early after primary infection; absorption with a soluble pentameric complex formed by gH/gL/pUL128-131, but not with gH/gL dimer or with gB, abolished the capacity of sera to neutralize infection of epithelial cells. Importantly, an early, high antibody response to pentamer antigenic sites was associated with a significantly reduced risk of HCMV transmission to the fetus. This association is consistent with the high in vitro inhibition of HCMV infection of epithelial/endothelial cells as well as cell-to-cell spreading and virus transfer to leukocytes by anti-pentamer antibodies. Taken together, these findings indicate that the HCMV pentamer complex is a major target of the antibody-mediated maternal immunity.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0059863
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0059863
M3 - Article
C2 - 23555812
AN - SCOPUS:84875547122
VL - 8
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 3
M1 - e59863
ER -