Exploring the genetic factors associated with Measles-Rubella vaccine response

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16874
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: National Center for Global Health and Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sakai Aiko 国立研究開発法人国立国際医療研究センター, その他部局等, 上級研究員 (40592184)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ワクチン / 免疫 / 抗体価 / 個人差 / HLA / 抗原結合領域 / 遺伝子多型 / 麻疹風疹

Outline of Final Research Achievements

HLA has been reported as a genetic factor contributing to interindividual variations in several vaccine responses. In this study, we identified class II HLA polymorphisms associated with measles and rubella vaccine responses in a population in which HLA polymorphisms associated with hepatitis B vaccine response were examined in our previous study.
Distinct risk/protective alleles were identified for hepatitis B, measles, and　rubella vaccine responses, respectively. Certain alleles showed opposite effects to the different vaccines. SNPs in HLA-DP region, associated with the hepatitis B vaccine response and known to influence the expression level of HLA-DP molecule, did not exhibit significant differences in measles and rubella vaccine responses. These findings suggest that the interaction between vaccine antigen and the　antigen-binding site of HLA molecules, rather than HLA expression levels, play an important role in the interindividual difference observed in vaccine responses.

Free Research Field

小児科学、免疫学、ワクチン学、遺伝

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

【学術的意義】ワクチン反応性の個人差にHLA多型が関連することが報告されているが、その詳細な機序は未解明である。本研究は、異なるワクチン種に対するワクチン反応性の違いとHLA多型を比較検討することで、この機序について検討した。
【社会的意義】麻疹・風疹は、ワクチン接種で十分な抗体獲得が得られれば感染防御が可能であるが、ワクチン反応性には個人差がある。個人差に寄与する要因やメカニズムを明らかにすることで、よりよいワクチン開発や、non responder対策を通じて麻疹・風疹の感染から社会を防御することにつながる。