Antibody response to human cytomegalovirus glycoproteins gB and gH after natural infection in humans.

ABSTRACT

Antibody to the recombinant gB (rgB) and recombinant gH (rgH) glycoproteins of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was studied in immunocompetent and immunocompromised humans by immunoprecipitating [35S]methionine-labeled CHO cell lines stably expressing rgB and rgH. Antibody to the rgB precursor was present in greater than 60% of immunocompetent individuals. However rgH antibody was detected in less than 10% of these patients. Antibody to both the rgB and rgH was detected during convalescence in three immunocompetent individuals with symptomatic CMV mononucleosis but to a lesser extent in three others who seroconverted to CMV without symptoms. Antibody to rgB and rgH in heart and heart-and-lung transplant recipients was detected in both primary and recurrent CMV infections but not with the same intensity as in immunocompetent individuals. Selected lots of immune serum globulin, administered prophylactically to bone marrow transplant recipients, were frequently deficient in antibody to rgH but not to rgB.