Cited by 1,065Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyImmune responses and vaccinationsImmune Response and Inflammation

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 49 of the 49 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Variation in the Human Immune System Is Largely Driven by Non-Heritable Influences

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Abstract

There is considerable heterogeneity in immunological parameters between individuals, but its sources are largely unknown. To assess the relative contribution of heritable versus non-heritable factors, we have performed a systems-level analysis of 210 healthy twins between 8 and 82 years of age. We measured 204 different parameters, including cell population frequencies, cytokine responses, and serum proteins, and found that 77% of these are dominated (>50% of variance) and 58% almost completely determined (>80% of variance) by non-heritable influences. In addition, some of these parameters become more variable with age, suggesting the cumulative influence of environmental exposure. Similarly, the serological responses to seasonal influenza vaccination are also determined largely by non-heritable factors, likely due to repeated exposure to different strains. Lastly, in MZ twins discordant for cytomegalovirus infection, more than half of all parameters are affected. These results highlight the largely reactive and adaptive nature of the immune system in healthy individuals.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2014.12.020

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  1. Francis, 1960, On the doctrine of original antigenic sin, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc., 104, 572
  2. Jablonski, 1922, A contribution to theheredity of refraction in human eyes, Arch. Augenheilk, 91, 308

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Metadata

Authors
Brodin, P., Jojic, V., Gao, T., Bhattacharya, S., Angel, C. J. L., Furman, D., Shen-Orr, S., Dekker, C. L., Swan, G. E., Butte, A. J., Maecker, H. T., & Davis, M. M.
Affiliations
  • Science for Life Laboratory (SE)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
  • Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Davis, Mark M.
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-01
Volume
160
Issue
1-2
Pages
37-47
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1978297432
Cited by
1,065
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 67 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 93 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 115 · 2020: 106 · 2019: 102 · 2018: 109 · 2017: 96 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 45
FWCI
75.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001085)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA011170, R01DA023063, DA011170, DA023063)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI090019, U19AI090019, U19AI057229)
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R21ES022153, ES022153)
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025744)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
Keywords
monozygotic twins, cytokine response, serum proteins, environmental exposure, cytomegalovirus infection
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Proteins, Child, Cytomegalovirus Infections, Humans, Immunity, Influenza Vaccines, Middle Aged, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Cytokines, Young Adult

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