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KIR ‐ HLA ‐ A and B alleles of the B w4 epitope against HIV infection in discordant heterosexual couples in C haco A rgentina
Author(s) -
Habegger de Sorrentino Alicia,
Sinchi Jessica L.,
Marinic Karina,
López Rosana,
Iliovich Ernesto
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12137
Subject(s) - human leukocyte antigen , epitope , immunology , allele , biology , receptor , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antibody , medicine , virology , antigen , genetics , gene
Summary Activating and inhibitory killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors ( KIR ) and their ligands HLA ‐Bw4 (loci A and B) were studied by way of establishing whether they can contribute to protection against HIV ‐1 infection in highly exposed and persistently seronegative ( HESN ) patients. Twenty‐three HIV ‐1 serodiscordant heterosexual couples, 100 HIV ‐1 + patients and 200 healthy individuals were included in this retrospective case–control study. HLA typing was performed by means of PCR followed by sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probe reverse hybridization. KIR 3 DL 1 and KIR 3 DS 1 were studied by PCR sequence‐specific primers. The frequency of KIR 3 DS 1(3 DS 1/3 DL 1)‐Bw4 combination was significantly higher in HESN patients versus the discordant couples ( P = 0·0003) and HIV ‐1 + patients ( P = 0·0001). Conversely, the KIR 3 DL 1/ KIR 3 DL 1 homozygosity was significantly decreased in HESN patients versus the discordant couples ( P = 0·00003), and HIV ‐1 + patients ( P = 0·00066). The frequency of HLA ‐A*32 and HLA ‐B*44 was higher in HESN versus their discordant couples ( P = 0·009; P = 0·049), and HIV ‐1 + patients ( P = 0·00002; P = 0·0001). This had greater significance in combination with KIR 3 DS 1 (3 DS 1/3 DL 1). KIR 3 DS 1(3 DS 1/3 DL 1) could have a greater effect on protection against HIV ‐1 infection in HESN patients when bound to a specific HLA allele, in this case HLA ‐A*32 and HLA ‐B*44, both Bw4 alleles. The differences probably arise both in the HLA alleles and in the subtypes of KIR receptors depending on the ethnic group studied.