Possible Associations between HLA Antigens and the Immune Responsiveness to Attenuated Rubella Vaccine

Abstract

We investigated possible associations between HLA antigens and the antibody response patterns during a clinical trial with a live attenuated rubella vaccine in 172 Japanese schoolgirls. Those vaccine recipients were divided into three groups, 42 low responders, 102 intermediate responders and 28 high responders, according to convalescent‐phase hemagglutination‐inhibiting antibody liters. High frequencies of HLA—A11 and HLA—B15 in high responders and HLA—Aw24 and HLA—B5 in low responders were found. Among HLA—A antigens HLA—A11 had the highest geometric mean HI antibody titer and HLA—Aw24 had the lowest. Among HLA—B antigens HLA—B15 had the highest and HLA—B5 had the lowest. Strong linkage disequilibrium was found between HLA—A11 and HLA—B15 in high responders and between HLA—Aw24 and HLA—B5 in low responders. These results suggest that there may be a relation‐ship between HLA antigens and specific immune response genes in man as well as in other vertebrates.