Association between secretor status and respiratory viral illness

BMJ. 1991 Oct 5;303(6806):815-8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.303.6806.815.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether non-secretion of blood group antigens is associated with respiratory virus diseases.

Design: Study of secretor status in patients with respiratory virus diseases determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed to identify Lewis (Le) blood group antigen phenotypes (Le(a) non-secretor; Le(b) secretor).

Subjects: Patients aged 1 month to 90 years in hospital with respiratory virus diseases (584 nasal specimens).

Main outcome measures: Criteria for validation of ELISA (congruence between results on ELISA testing of 1155 saliva samples from a previous study and previously established results on haemagglutination inhibition (HAI) testing, proportions of Le(a), Le(b), and Le- phenotypes in 872 samples of nasal washings from a previous study compared with the normal population). Secretor status of patients determined by ELISA and viruses isolated.

Results: Agreement between HAI and ELISA for 1155 saliva samples was 97%. Lewis antigens were detected by ELISA in 854 (97.9%) of nasal washings (Le(a) 233 (26.7%), Le(b) 621 (71.2%), and Le- 18 (2.1%)) in proportions predicted for a northern European population. Secretors were significantly overrepresented among patients from whom influenza viruses A and B (55/64, 86%; p less than 0.025), rhinoviruses (63/72, 88%; p less than 0.01), respiratory syncytial virus (97/109, 89%; p less than 0.0005), and echoviruses (44/44, p less than 0.0005) had been isolated compared with the distribution of secretors in the local population.

Conclusion: Secretion of blood group antigens is associated with respiratory virus diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Isoantigens / analysis*
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens / genetics
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / blood
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / immunology*
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Saliva / immunology*
  • Virus Diseases / blood
  • Virus Diseases / immunology*

Substances

  • Isoantigens
  • Lewis Blood Group Antigens