Co-evolution of KIR2DL3 with HLA-C in a human population retaining minimal essential diversity of KIR and HLA class I ligands.

ABSTRACT: Natural killer (NK) cells contribute to immunity and reproduction. Guiding these functions, and NK cell education, are killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIR), NK cell receptors that recognize HLA class I. In most human populations, these highly polymorphic receptors and ligands combine with extraordinary diversity. To assess how much of this diversity is necessary, we studied KIR and HLA class I at high resolution in the Yucpa, a small South Amerindian population that survived an approximate 15,000-year history of population bottleneck and epidemic infection, including recent viral hepatitis. The Yucpa retain the three major HLA epitopes recognized by KIR. Through balancing selection on a few divergent haplotypes the Yucpa maintain much of the KIR variation found worldwide. HLA-C*07, the stro

SUBMITTER: Gendzekhadze K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2774017 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature