Project description:Rapid advances in biochemical technologies have enabled several strategies for typing candidate HLA alleles, but linking them into a single MHC haplotype structure remains challenging. Here we have developed a multi-loci haplotype phasing technique and demonstrate its utility towards phasing of MHC and KIR loci in human samples. We accurately (~99%) reconstruct the complete haplotypes for over 90% of sequence variants spanning the 4-megabase region of these two loci. By haplotyping a majority of coding and non-coding alleles at the MHC and KIR loci in a single assay, this method has the potential to assist transplantation matching and facilitate investigation of the genetic basis of human immunity and disease. Complete haplotype phasing of 2 loci (MHC and KIR) in 1 human cell line.
Project description:Rapid advances in biochemical technologies have enabled several strategies for typing candidate HLA alleles, but linking them into a single MHC haplotype structure remains challenging. Here we have developed a multi-loci haplotype phasing technique and demonstrate its utility towards phasing of MHC and KIR loci in human samples. We accurately (~99%) reconstruct the complete haplotypes for over 90% of sequence variants spanning the 4-megabase region of these two loci. By haplotyping a majority of coding and non-coding alleles at the MHC and KIR loci in a single assay, this method has the potential to assist transplantation matching and facilitate investigation of the genetic basis of human immunity and disease.
Project description:Uterine NK cells (uNK cells) form a distinct immune cell population in the endometrium and decidua. Here, we FACS-sorted KIR-CD39-,KIR+CD39- and KIR+CD39+ uNK cells from decidual samples.
Project description:The variegated expression of the KIR family of class I MHC receptors is crucial for the generation of specialized NK cells capable of detecting changes in the expression of specific HLA genes or alleles. Understanding the timing and mechanism of KIR gene activation will lead to improved methods for the generation of fully functional NK cells in vitro. Previous studies revealed that a central RUNX-binding site is a key element required for the demethylation and activation of the KIR proximal promoter. RUNX proteins associate with the TET family of proteins that generate 5‑hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and drive DNA demethylation. We employed a novel system capable of distinguishing 5‑methylcytosine (5mC) and 5hmC residues in DNA to provide insight into the process of KIR gene activation during NK cell development. Significant levels of 5hmC, indicative of TET activity, were observed in variegated KIR genes in CD56Bright NK cells but not the preceding ILCP or subsequent CD56-Dim stages of development. The primary site of 5hmC generation was within the central CREB-binding site, located 11 bp 5' of the consensus RUNX-binding site. Taken together, these findings support a key role of RUNX/TET for KIR gene activation in developing NK cells.