Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes and their HLA-C ligands in a Ugandan population
Loading...
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Immunogenetics
Abstract
Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)
genes are expressed by natural killer cells and encoded by a
family of genes exhibiting considerable haplotypic and allelic
variation. HLA-C molecules, the dominant ligands for KIR,
are present in all individuals and are discriminated by two KIR
epitopes, C1 and C2.We studied the frequencies of KIR genes
and HLA-C1 and C2 groups in a large cohort (n=492) from
Kampala, Uganda, East Africa and compared our findings
with published data from other populations in sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) and several European populations. We find
considerably more KIR diversity and weaker linkage disequilibrium
in SSA compared to the European populations and
describe several novel KIR genotypes. C1 and C2 frequencies
were similar to other SSA populations with a higher frequency
of the C2 epitope (54.9 %) compared to Europe (average
39.7 %). Analysis of this large cohort from Uganda in the
context of other African populations reveals variations in KIR
and HLA-C1 and C2 that are consistent with migrations within
Africa and potential selection pressures on these genes. Our
results will help understand how KIR/HLA-C interactions contribute
to resistance to pathogens and reproductive success.
Description
Keywords
KIR, HLA-C, Uganda, Africa, Population study, NKcell
Citation
Nakimuli, A., Chazara, O., Farrell, L., Hiby, SE, Tukwasibwe, S., Knee, O., ... & Moffett, A. (2013). Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes and their HLA-C ligands in a Ugandan population. Immunogenetics , DOI 10.1007/s00251-013-0724-7