POLYMORPHISMS OF THE TAP2 GENE MAY INFLUENCE ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO LIVE MEASLES-VACCINE VIRUS

The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) gene products transport peptides from the cytosol to the endoplasmic reticulum for processing by the immune system. We hypothesized that polymorphisms wi thin the TAP genes may influence measles vaccine antigen processing an d hence antibody response. TAP genotypes were determined for subjects who were measles vaccine nonresponders (n=32) and hyper-responders (n= 28). TAP1 and TAP2 alleles were determined by PCR amplification of spe cific alleles (PASA). Measles vaccine nonresponders were more likely t o be homozygous at TAP2 position 665 than were hyper-responders (OR=5. 0, P=0.016). Lastly, a trend was found in the overall distribution of all TAP2 genotype frequencies between hyper-responders and nonresponde rs (P=0.08). No association was found between TAP1 polymorphisms and v accine response. These data reveal an association between TAP2 genotyp e and measles vaccine antibody response which may explain one mechanis m behind vaccine failure. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.