title: Association of HLA alleles with the responsiveness to hepatitis B virus vaccination in Korean infants.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is the most effective means of countering HBV-related morbidity and mortality, and individuals who do not respond to vaccination (non-responders) are problematic. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between HLA and responsiveness to HBV vaccine in Korean infants. A total of 944 healthy Korean infants 9-12 months old were enrolled, and HLA distribution was compared among subgroups in accordance with the response to HBV vaccination. The HLA distribution of the subjects was similar to known Korean population data and did not deviate from the HWE proportions. The alleles that showed positive associations with non-responsiveness (<10mIU/mL) or low antibody titer (<100mIU/mL) were HLA-A*33, B62, DRB1*04, and DRB1*07, while the alleles A*02 and DRB1*08 showed negative associations. Among these alleles, B62, DRB1*07 and DRB1*08(-) showed significant associations with a poor or decreased response to vaccination even after correction (OR=1.83, 1.99, 5.63; pc<0.05) and also showed dose effects. After stratification by other associated alleles at different loci, B62 and DRB1*07 were independently associated with non-responsiveness, but A*02(-) and DRB1*08(-) lost their individual associations. The combined association of A*02(-)-DRB1*08(-) and B62-DRB1*08(-) was significant (OR=25.2 and 24.5; pc<0.05). Although the hierarchy is not clear, we can assume the following: (i) B62 and DRB1*07 have independent effects, (ii) DRB1*08(-) has a very strong and synergic effect, and (iii) there is probability of a third factor controlling A*02(-) and DRB1*08(-) with an effect on non-responsiveness to HBV vaccination in Korean infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Seoul Metropolitan Public Cord Blood Bank-ALLCORD, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Seoul Metropolitan Public Cord Blood Bank-ALLCORD, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji won
authors.initials: Jw
authors.lastname: In
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Seoul Metropolitan Public Cord Blood Bank-ALLCORD, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: 75-crimson@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Eun Youn
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Roh
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: HBV vaccination; HLA; Korean; Non-responsiveness