Mechanism for neutralizing activity by the anti-CMV gH/gL monoclonal antibody MSL-109

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Jun 3;111(22):8209-14. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1404653111. Epub 2014 May 19.

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a widespread opportunistic pathogen that causes birth defects when transmitted transplacentally and severe systemic illness in immunocompromised individuals. MSL-109, a human monoclonal IgG isolated from a CMV seropositive individual, binds to the essential CMV entry glycoprotein H (gH) and prevents infection of cells. Here, we suggest a mechanism for neutralization activity by MSL-109. We define a genetic basis for resistance to MSL-109 and have generated a structural model of gH that reveals the epitope of this neutralizing antibody. Using surface-based, time-resolved FRET, we demonstrate that gH/gL interacts with glycoprotein B (gB). Additionally, we detect homodimers of soluble gH/gL heterodimers and confirm this novel oligomeric assembly on full-length gH/gL expressed on the cell surface. We show that MSL-109 perturbs the dimerization of gH/gL:gH/gL, suggesting that dimerization of gH/gL may be required for infectivity. gH/gL homodimerization may be conserved between alpha- and betaherpesviruses, because both CMV and HSV gH/gL demonstrate self-association in the FRET system. This study provides evidence for a novel mechanism of action for MSL-109 and reveals a previously undescribed aspect of viral entry that may be susceptible to therapeutic intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / pharmacology
  • Base Sequence
  • CHO Cells
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cricetulus
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Dimerization
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / immunology
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein H, Cytomegalovirus
  • sevirumab

Associated data

  • PDB/4LRI