[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.