title: Distribution of KIR genes in the Croatian population.
abstract: The KIR locus with genes involved in immune processes is among the most polymorphic and structurally diverse human loci. KIR genes encode activating and inhibitory receptors that differ in specificity for HLA class I ligands and signaling potential. These receptors are expressed principally by natural killer (NK) cells and subpopulations of T cells. This study represents the first report of the distribution of KIR genes, KIR genotypes and KIR/HLA pairs in 121 unrelated healthy Croatian individuals. Twenty-three different genotypes were observed in the Croatian population and all 16 KIR genes known to date were found. The most frequent KIR genotype was the AA genotype. All individuals had at least one inhibitory KIR/HLA pair with the majority of individuals with three inhibitory KIR/HLA pairs. The most frequent KIR/HLA pair was the KIR2DL3/C1 group. Our results demonstrated the similarity of the Croatian population's KIR repertoire with other Caucasian populations reported so far.
authors: Clinical Units for Tissue Typing, Clinical Department for Transfusion Medicine and Transplantation Biology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia. mburek@kbc-zagreb.hr
authors: Marija Kamenaric
authors: MK
authors: Burek
authors: Zorana
authors: Z
authors: Grubic
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Stingl
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Zunec
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D054340:Receptors, KIR
keywords: HLA; KIR; LRC; NK; PCR; SSP; human leukocyte antigen; killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors; leukocyte receptor complex; natural killer cell; polymerase chain reaction; sequence-specific primer