Associations between race, sex and immune response variations to rubella vaccination in two independent cohorts

Abstract

Introduction: 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).

Conclusion: Our study provides consistent evidence for racial/ethnic differences in humoral immune response following rubella vaccination.

Keywords: Antibodies; Cellular immunity; Ethnicity; MMR; Race; Rubella vaccine; Sex.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Plots of genetic similarity according to PCA-based axes of genetic variation: A and B for the San Diego cohort, C and D for the Rochester cohort. Ultimate genetic groupings are shown by different symbols/colors and illustrate the consistent clustering of racial and ethnic groups. African-American and admixed African-American clusters were combined in analyses, but are shown in different symbols/colors for the Rochester cohort to highlight the differences between the admixed African-American and Somali groups. Figure 1(A and B) reprinted with permission from Human Genetics [21].