title: Influence of KIR genes and their HLA ligands in the pathogenesis of leprosy in a hyperendemic population of Rondonópolis, Southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the association between KIR genes and the immunopathogenesis of leprosy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The types of KIR and HLA genes were evaluated by PCR-SSOP-Luminex in 408 patients with leprosy and 413 healthy individuals. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test and stepwise multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a higher frequency of activating KIR genes (KIR2DS1, 2DS2 and 3DS1) together with their HLA ligands in the tuberculoid (TT) group as compared to the lepromatous leprosy (LL) group. KIR2DL2/2DL2-C1 was more frequent in the patient, TT and LL groups than in the control group. Borderline patients presented a higher frequency of inhibitory pairs when compared to the control group, and a higher frequency of activating pairs as compared to the LL group. Multivariate analysis confirmed the associations and demonstrated that being a female is a protective factor against the development of the disease per se and the more severe clinical form.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that activating and inhibitory KIR genes may influence the development of leprosy - in particular, activating genes may protect against the more aggressive form of the disease - thereby demonstrating the role of NK cells in the immunopathology of the disease.
authors.forename: Luciana Ribeiro
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Jarduli
authors.forename: Hugo Vicentin
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Fabiana Covolo
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: de Souza-Santana
authors.forename: Elaine Valim Camarinha
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: Ana Carla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ida Maria Foschiani
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Dias-Baptista
authors.forename: Vinícius Medeiros
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Marcelo Távora
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mira
authors.forename: Milton Ozório
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Marcos da Cunha Lopes
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Virmond
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunogenética, Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av, Colombo, 5790, Maringá, PR CEP 87020-900, Brazil. jelvisentainer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeane Eliete Laguila
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Visentainer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D054340:Receptors, KIR