Serum antibody response to matrix protein 2 following natural infection with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus in humans

W Zhong, C Reed, PJ Blair, JM Katz… - The Journal of …, 2014 - academic.oup.com
W Zhong, C Reed, PJ Blair, JM Katz, K Hancock, Influenza Serology Working Group…
The Journal of infectious diseases, 2014academic.oup.com
Natural infection–induced humoral immunity to matrix protein 2 (M2) of influenza A viruses in
humans is not fully understood. Evidence suggests that anti-M2 antibody responses
following influenza A virus infection are weak and/or transient. We show that the
seroprevalence of anti-M2 antibodies increased with age in 317 serum samples from
healthy individuals in the United States in 2007–2008. Infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1
influenza A virus (A [H1N1] pdm09) elicited a recall serum antibody response to M2 protein …
Abstract
Natural infection–induced humoral immunity to matrix protein 2 (M2) of influenza A viruses in humans is not fully understood. Evidence suggests that anti-M2 antibody responses following influenza A virus infection are weak and/or transient. We show that the seroprevalence of anti-M2 antibodies increased with age in 317 serum samples from healthy individuals in the United States in 2007–2008. Infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus (A[H1N1]pdm09) elicited a recall serum antibody response to M2 protein of A(H1N1)pdm09 in 47% of the affected 118 individuals tested. Anti-M2 antibody responses were more robust among individuals with preexisting antibodies to M2 protein. Moreover, the antibodies induced as a result of infection with A(H1N1)pdm09 were cross-reactive with M2 protein of seasonal influenza A viruses. These results emphasize the need to further investigate the possible roles of anti-M2 antibodies in human influenza A virus infection.
Oxford University Press