The human cytomegalovirus TRL11/IRL11-encoded FcγR binds differentially to allelic variants of immunoglobulin G1.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has evolved several immune-evasion strategies. One strategy involves encoding Fcgamma receptor (FcγR)-like proteins that thwart the Fcγ-mediated effector functions. Our aim was to determine whether GM allotypes-immunoglobulin γ chain determinants expressed primarily on the Fc segment-modulate this viral strategy through differential binding to the viral FcγR. Results of our ELISA binding studies show that the mean absorbance values for binding to the HCMV TRL11/IRL11-encoded FcγR were higher for IgG1 expressing the GM 3 allotype than for those expressing the allelic GM 1,2,17 determinants (p = 0.0005), a finding with potential implications for genetic etiology of HCMV-associated diseases.