HLA-linked genetic control in natural rubella infection

HLA antigen frequencies were investigated in 115 patients with congenital rubella syndrome and 93 of their mothers in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. A high frequency of HLA-B15 and a low frequency of HLA-Bw22 were found in the mothers. HLA-B15 was associated with high antibody responsiveness to rubella vaccine in our previous study, whereas HLA-Bw22 was one of the HLA antigens which showed low antibody responsiveness. There was no association between HLA antigens and viral replication in rubella vaccine recipients in the present study. These results indicate that and HLA-linked genetic background in the mothers is related to susceptibility to congenital rubella syndrome, and that the mechanism of the relation may be mediated via immune response genes.