title: Associations between human leukocyte antigens and nonresponsiveness to influenza vaccine.
abstract: Influenza remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in at-risk groups where vaccination reduces complications of infection but is not universally protective. In order to determine whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II polymorphisms modulate anti-influenza antibody responses to vaccination, a cohort of HLA-typed at-risk donors was investigated. The subjects were recruited from a single urban family practice. Hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) titers were measured immediately before and 28 days after subunit vaccination. Nonresponsiveness was defined as failure to mount an HAI response to any component of the trivalent influenza vaccine. When the nonresponders and responders with HLA class II were compared, the nonresponder group had more HLA-DRB1*07-positive donors (13/32 vs. 6/41 responders; P=.016, Fisher's exact test) and fewer HLA-DQB1*0603-9/14-positive donors (2/32 vs. 14/41 responders; P=.0045). Thus, polymorphisms in HLA class II molecules appear to modulate antibody responses to influenza vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infection and Immunity, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XX, Wales, United Kingdom. viralimmunol@cf.ac.uk
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gelder
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambkin
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: O Martin
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bunce
authors.forename: Kenneth I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oxford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007252:Influenza Vaccines