[Receptor-ligand analysis of killer cell Ig-like receptor in Jiangsu Han population].

AIM

To investigate the distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and its specific ligand human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in Jiangsu Han population.

METHODS

173 samples from unrelated healthy individuals of Jiangsu Han population were genotyped and observed for KIR, HLA-Cw and HLA-Bw4 using a SYBR Green I real-time PCR and PCR-SSP method, respectively. The number and type of KIR/HLA pairs inherited in each individual were analyzed.

RESULTS

In Jiangsu Han population, all four inhibitory KIR (2DL1, 2DL2/3, 3DL1 and 3DL2) that recognize the classical HLA class I molecules HLA-A, -B and -C were present in >92% of the study group. Frequencies of 2DL2/HLA-C1, 2DL3/HLA-C1, 2DL1/HLA-C2 and 3DL1/Bw4 were 0.243, 0.971, 0.457 and 0.590, respectively; frequencies of 2DS1/HLA-C2 and 2DS2/HLA-C1 were 0.162 and 0.231, respectively. 54.3% of the cases expressed KIR2DL1 without HLA-C1, 32.9% inherited 3DL1 without HLA-Bw4 and 5.8% expressed HLA-Bw4 without 3DL1. 27.7% of the individuals had three iKIR/HLA pairs, 26% carried two iKIR/HLA pairs, and 25.4% inherited a single iKIR/HLA pair and no one was deficient in all three iKIR/HLA pairs.

CONCLUSION

There was disparity between KIR receptor and HLA ligand in Jiangsu Han population. Inhibitory KIR/HLA pair frequency was higher than stimulatory one. About 1/4 of the study group expressed a single iKIR/HLA pair alone.