Decreased risk of colorectal cancer with the high natural killer cell activity NKG2D genotype in Japanese.
BACKGROUND
NKG2D is an immune receptor on natural killer (NK) and other cells active in the immune system. It recognizes ligands expressed on mainly transformed cells and plays a role in their elimination through the so-called 'cancer immune surveillance'. It was reported that there are two haplotypes of NKG2D, HNK1 (high NK activity) and LNK1 (low NK activity). Harboring the HNK1 is reported to reduce the overall cancer risk. To elucidate its impact on colorectal cancer (CRC), we conducted the present case-control study.


METHODS
The subjects were 379 CRC patients and 1137 sex-age-matched non-cancer controls. Data on lifestyle factors including diet were obtained by self-administered questionnaire. The NKG2D genotypes (rs1049174: G-C, LNK1/LNK1:CC; LNK1/HNK1:CG and HNK1/HNK1:GG) were assessed by the TaqMan method. Associations were then assessed by multivariate logistic regression models, considering potential confounders. The measure of association was the odds ratio (OR) and its confidence intervals (CIs).


RESULTS
We found a reduced risk of CRC with the NKG2D HNK1. Adjusted ORs were 0.77 for LNK1/HNK1 (95% CI: 0.60-0.99) and 0.48 for HNK1/HNK1 (0.32-0.72) relative to LNK1/LNK1. The same association was consistently observed with stratified analyses across all confounders except regular exercise and body mass index (BMI). Thus, the impact of harboring HNK1 was more evident among those with BMI >/= 25 and those exercising regularly, suggesting possible interactions between NKG2D genotype and these factors.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the HNK1 genotype, associated with high NK cell activity, might be an independent protective factor for CRC among the Japanese population. This possibility warrants further analysis.
Furue
Hiroki
H
Central Laboratory and Radiation Biology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan.
Matsuo
Keitaro
K
Kumimoto
Hiroshi
H
Hiraki
Akio
A
Suzuki
Takeshi
T
Yatabe
Yasushi
Y
Komori
Koji
K
Kanemitsu
Yukihide
Y
Hirai
Takashi
T
Kato
Tomoyuki
T
Ueda
Minoru
M
Ishizaki
Kanji
K
Tajima
Kazuo
K
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007564:Japan; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D012306:Risk
C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell