Identification of an association between HLA class II alleles and low antibody levels after measles immunization

This is the first large cohort study to report a genetic association betwee n humoral antibody level after measles vaccine and the HLA class II genes. The WHO goal to eradicate measles world-wide magnifies the importance of da ta relating to the influence of immunogenetics on measles vaccine-induced a ntibody responses. We present here the analysis of 242 individuals who rece ived one dose of measles-mumps-rubella-II (MMR-II) vaccine at the age of 15 months and were genotyped for HLA class II alleles. These subjects fit int o one of three categories, 72 were classified as seronegative, 93 were sero positive and 77 were serohyperpositive. HLA-DRB1*03 (odds ratio (OR). 2.22) and HLA-DPA1*0201 (OR, 1.71) were significantly associated with measles va ccine seronegativity, while additional alleles provided suggestive evidence of association with seronegativity: DQA1*0201 DQB1*0201. and DQA1*0501. Th e alleles DRB1*03 and DQA1*0201 remained statistically significant after ac counting for the effects of other alleles. These findings are crucial in de signing both measles eradication by the use of vaccine, and future vaccines to be used in genetically heterozygous populations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.