title: A novel duplex SSP-PCR typing method for KIR gene profiling.
abstract: Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) control the function of natural killer cells. The number and type of KIR genes are substantially variable among individuals. Sequence-specific primer-directed polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) based genotyping is the most commonly used method to assess the KIR gene content. However, it requires a minimum of 16 gene-specific amplifications and often yields false-negative results. Herein, we describe the development of a simple and efficient duplex SSP-PCR assay to identify the presence and absence of 16 KIR genes. This system further distinguishes subsets of KIR2DS4 and KIR3DP1 alleles. The assay was subjected to a blind validation using a panel of 78 reference DNA standards from the UCLA KIR Exchange Program, which showed 100% specificity and accuracy. Compared with the conventional SSP typing methods, the present method is an accurate, simple, cost-effective and labor-saving KIR genotyping method for high volume testing.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1652, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ashouri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaderi
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajalingam
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D054340:Receptors, KIR