Gender differences at baseline in autoantibody levels but no gender differences in vaccine-induced responses and no changes in autoantibody levels following influenza vaccine (HUM6P.246)

Abstract

Abstract Background. Gender bias presents in most autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease. In the current study, we investigate the mechanisms of gender bias in autoreactive antibody (Ab) production in healthy controls after influenza (flu) vaccination. Method. Plasma levels of anti-nuclear Ab (ANA), anti-dsDNA autoAb, and anti-CD4 autoAb in a cohort of 5 healthy men and 11 healthy women received vaccines at 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. Blood draws were taken at 0, 7, and 14 days after the latest vaccination. Vaccine responses were defined by neutralization activities in plasma. Flu-specific Ab avidity was tested by ELISA. The levels of autoAbs were analyzed in plasma by ELISA. Results: Women have higher levels of all 3 autoAbs than men at D0, but not the flu-specific neutralizing activities or flu-specific Ab avidities. The median plasma levels of anti-ANA Ab (OD) at D0 were 0.2281 (IQR, 0.2058 - 0.2338) and 0.3697 (IQR, 0.2918 - 0.4261); the median plasma levels of anti-CD4 Ab (OD) were 0.1678 (IQR, 0.1589 - 0.1932) and 0.2148 (IQR, 0.1986 - 0.2696); and the median plasma levels of anti-dsDNA Ab (IU/mL) were 122.3 (IQR, 91.86 - 175.8) and 197.3 (IQR, 131.2 - 389.8), for men and women respectively (P < 0.05, Mann Whitney U test). Influenza vaccination did not change the titer of autoAbs at any time point. Conclusions: Women have increased levels of autoAbs than men, and these autoAbs are not resulted from repeated influenza vaccinations.