Combinations of HLA and KIR also appear to affect outcome to viral infection, supporting a role for HLA class I diversity in the innate immune response in addition to the acquired immune response.
Some KIRs bind to HLA class I subgroups, and genetic interactions between KIR genes and their ligand HLA have been shown to be associated with several autoimmune and viral diseases.
Several recent studies suggest that epistatic interactions between certain KIR and MHC class I genes may determine innate resistance of the host to viral infections, including HIV.
We analyzed whether activating KIR genes carried by kidney transplant-recipients influence the rate of viral infection during the first year after transplantation.
In this study, we assessed the association of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) with disease severity by comparing KIR gene content in patients with mild and severe pandemic influenza virus infections to a control group.
Due to the role of KIR and low or deficient MBL haplotypes in viral infections, these genetic markers could be considered as indicators of a need for CMV prophylaxis at younger age and therefore increased probability of longer lifespan.
In particular, an important combined role for KIR3DS1 and HLA-B Bw4-I80 in controlling viral infections and a higher protection against leukemic relapses in donor equipped with activating KIRs in haplo-HSCT has been described.
The killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) KIR2DS2 induces natural killer (NK) cell activation upon ligation and in genetic studies is associated with protection against certain cancers and viral infections.