title: KIR matching in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Although the key role of MHC-restricted T lymphocytes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been known for a long time, recent data have focused on complementary or alternative effector cell populations, and in particular on NK cells. Spontaneously generated NK cell alloreactivity from stem cell grafts involves specific interactions between NK receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their MHC class I ligands. The combined effects of HLA and KIR polymorphic genes might explain discrepancies in the impact of donor-recipient matching observed in HSCT.
authors.affiliation: HLA laboratory, Etablissement Français du Sang, Pays de Loire, 44011 Nantes, France. jean-denis.bignon@univ-nantes.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Denis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bignon
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gagne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D054340:Receptors, KIR
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR