HLA and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors influence the natural course of CMV infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Natural killer (NK) cells provide a major defense against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection through the interaction of their surface receptors, including the activating and inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I molecules. This study assessed whether the KIR and HLA repertoire may influence the risk of developing symptomatic or asymptomatic disease after primary CMV infection in the immunocompetent host.

METHODS:

Sixty immunocompetent patients with primary symptomatic CMV infection were genotyped for KIR and their HLA ligands, along with 60 subjects with a previous asymptomatic infection as controls.

RESULTS:

The frequency of the homozygous A haplotype (only KIR2DS4 as activating KIR) was higher in symptomatic patients than controls (30% vs 12%, respectively; odds ratio [OR] = 3.24; P = .01). By logistic regression, the risk of developing symptomatic disease was associated with the homozygous A haplotype and the HLABw4(T) allele. Combining the 2 independent variables, we found that 37 out of 60 (62%) symptomatic patients but only 18 out of 60 (30%) of controls possessed the homozygous A haplotype or the HLABw4(T) allele with a highly significant OR (OR = 3.75, P < .0005).

CONCLUSIONS:

Immunocompetent subjects carrying the homozygous A haplotype or the HLABw4(T) allele are at higher risk of developing symptomatic disease after primary CMV infection.

• Authors: Danilo Di Bona, Valeria Scafidi, Antonella Plaia, Claudia Colomba, Domenico Nuzzo, Cecilia Occhino, Antonino Tuttolomondo, Giovanni Giammanco, Simona De Grazia, Giuseppe Montalto, Giovanni Duro, Marco Cippitelli, Calogero Caruso
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 210 Issue 7 Pg. 1083-9 (Oct 01 2014) ISSN: 1537-6613 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24737799 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
• Receptors, KIR

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Cytomegalovirus (immunology)
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (immunology, pathology)
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genotype
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, KIR (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Young Adult