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Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene repertoire influences viral load of primary human cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients

Genes & Immunity volume 15, pages 562–568 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are highly polymorphic members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, which influence the response of natural killer cells and some T-lymphocyte subsets. Analysis of a cohort of previously human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-negative patients, who developed primary HCMV infection following HCMV-positive renal transplant (n=76), revealed an increase in the frequency of KIR genes located on the telomeric region of B haplotypes (Tel B). The presence of Tel B in combination with the KIR ligand HLA-C2 was significantly more frequent in this subgroup. These genetic factors were associated with resistance to HCMV infection in a second cohort (n=65), where the Tel B genes KIR2DL5, -2DS1, 2DS5 and -3DS1 were all significantly associated with high viral loads. Furthermore, the KIR haplotype Tel A when in combination with the KIR ligand HLA-C1 was significantly protective against the development of severe infection. Our results suggest that KIR are a significant factor in the control of primary HCMV infection, and that determination of KIR gene repertoire may help in detection of renal transplant patients who were most at risk.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Leukaemia Research UK (LRUK) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). CJT is supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    D C Jones, J A Traherne & J Trowsdale

  2. Tissue Typing Laboratory, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK

    S Peacock & C J Taylor

  3. Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK

    D Hughes

  4. Centre for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s Hospital, University of London, London, UK

    R L Allen

  5. Transplant Immunology Laboratory, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK

    M C N M Barnardo & S Fuggle

  6. Oxford Transplant Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK

    P Friend

  7. Division of Applied Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

    N T Young

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Correspondence to N T Young.

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Jones, D., Peacock, S., Hughes, D. et al. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene repertoire influences viral load of primary human cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients. Genes Immun 15, 562–568 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2014.53

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