title: Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genes in uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to review the function and genetics of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and studies of KIR genetic associations with uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of published studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KIRs are receptors on NK and some T cells. They may inhibit or activate cellular function, such as cytotoxicity and cytokine production. Studies have been published examining KIR gene associations with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BCR), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, and HLA-B27-associated acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and axial spondyloarthropathy. Evidence for increased activating and/or less inhibitory KIR and HLA gene combinations was found for BCR and VKH disease. In HLA-B27-associated disease, a trend toward decreased activation and stronger inhibition was found, except for the weakly inhibitory 3DL1 and Bw4(T80) combination. This latter combination was also found to confer risk in BCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KIR genetics are complex, as are the functions of KIR-bearing cells. Nonetheless, evidence for KIRs in the pathogenesis of uveitis has been found.
authors: Ocular Inflammatory Disease Center, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. Levinson@jsei.ucla.edu
authors: Ralph D
authors: RD
authors: Levinson