Proteomics has become an emerging tool in the analysis of pathological biological processes. A clinical case study in the Michigan State University Histocompatibility Laboratory presented an opportunity to become more familiar with proteomic methods to investigate the presence of a protein stimulus present in a routine vaccination. The patient had received a routine vaccination of a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine and later presented with newly detected antibodies, specifically, anti-HLA-DR11. Sequence specific oligonucleotide (SSO) probe genotyping typing of the WI-38 cell line used to culture the rubella component of the vaccine has confirmed that the cell line is HLA-DR11 positive. Using immunoaffinity combined with mass spectrometry and western blot analysis, the presence of HLA-DR11 protein in the vaccine has been investigated. Following the completion of multiple assay arrangements, it was determined that HLA-DR11 protein could not be detected in the vaccine preparations tested. Though HLA-DR11 protein was not detected in any of the methods developed, it may have been due to a lack the sensitivity of the assays utilized for this project. Had the protein been positively identified, the results would have further indicated routine vaccination as an additional source of sensitization to HLA proteins.
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