title: Associations between race, sex and immune response variations to rubella vaccination in two independent cohorts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immune response variations after vaccination are influenced by host genetic factors and demographic variables, such as race, ethnicity and sex. The latter have not been systematically studied in regard to live rubella vaccine, but are of interest for developing next generation vaccines for diverse populations, for predicting immune responses after vaccination, and for better understanding the variables that impact immune response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed associations between demographic variables, including race, ethnicity and sex, and rubella-specific neutralizing antibody levels and secreted cytokines (IFNγ, IL-6) in two independent cohorts (1994 subjects), using linear and linear mixed models approaches, and genetically defined racial and ethnic categorizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our replicated findings in two independent, large, racially diverse cohorts indicate that individuals of African descent have significantly higher rubella-specific neutralizing antibody levels compared to individuals of European descent and/or Hispanic ethnicity (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides consistent evidence for racial/ethnic differences in humoral immune response following rubella vaccination.
authors: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States; Program in Translational Immunovirology and Biodefense, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: Iana H
authors: IH
authors: Haralambieva
authors: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: Hannah M
authors: HM
authors: Salk
authors: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States; Program in Translational Immunovirology and Biodefense, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: Nathaniel D
authors: ND
authors: Lambert
authors: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States; Program in Translational Immunovirology and Biodefense, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: Inna G
authors: IG
authors: Ovsyannikova
authors: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States; Program in Translational Immunovirology and Biodefense, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: Richard B
authors: RB
authors: Kennedy
authors: Division of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: Nathaniel D
authors: ND
authors: Warner
authors: Division of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States.
authors: V Shane
authors: VS
authors: Pankratz
authors: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States; Program in Translational Immunovirology and Biodefense, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States; Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States. Electronic address: poland.gregory@mayo.edu.
authors: Gregory A
authors: GA
authors: Poland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012409:Rubella / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C573415:IFNG protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Antibodies; Cellular immunity; Ethnicity; MMR; Race; Rubella vaccine; Sex