Activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genes' association with recurrent miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
Natural killer (NK) cells are regulated through NK cell receptors such as killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). KIRs are suspected of being involved in the causes of recurrent miscarriage (RM) as a higher proportion of activated NK cells were observed in women with RM when compared with that in controls. The aim of this study was to investigate if KIR genes coding for receptors known to have as ligands HLA class I molecules are correlated with RM.


METHODS
A matched case-control study was carried out in 68 south Brazilian Caucasian patient couples with RM and 68 control fertile couples. KIR genes were typed by PCR-Reverse SSO method.


RESULTS
The rate of possession of an elevated number of activating KIR genes (positive for five or six activating KIR genes out of six different activating KIR genes analyzed) in RM patient women was significantly higher (P = 0.0201) when compared with that in control fertile women. These data suggest that women carrying a high content of activating KIR genes have about threefold increased probability to develop RM [OR = 2.71; 95% CI (1.23-6.01)].


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that RM could be associated with NK cell activation mediated by a profile rich in activating KIR genes.
Vargas
Rafael Gustavo
RG
Genetics Department, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
Bompeixe
Eni Picchioni
EP
França
Patrícia Pinhode
PP
Marques de Moraes
Marcio
M
da Graça Bicalho
Maria
M
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D006680:HLA Antigens; D054340:Receptors, KIR