title: Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor (KIR) Genotype Distribution in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease predominantly affecting Mediterranean populations. The gene associated with FMF is the MEFV gene, which encodes for a protein called pyrin. Mutations of pyrin lead to uncontrolled attacks of inflammation, and subclinical inflammation continues during attack-free intervals. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes encode HLA class I receptors expressed by NK cells. The aim this study was to look for immunogenetic determinants in the pathogenesis of FMF and find out if KIR are related to susceptibility to disease or complications like renal amyloidosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and five patients with FMF and 100 healthy individuals were involved in the study. Isolated DNA from peripheral blood was amplified by sequence specific PCR probes and analyzed by Luminex for KIR genotypes. Fisher Exact test was used to evaluate the variation of KIR gene distribution. RESULTS All patients and healthy controls expressed the framework genes. An activator KIR gene, KIR2DS2, was significantly more frequent in FMF patients (p=0.036). Renal amyloidosis and presence of arthritis were not associated with KIR genes and genotype. KIR3DL1 gene was more common in patients with high serum CRP (p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS According to our findings, we suggest that presence of KIR2DS2, which is an activator gene for NK cell functions, might be related to the autoinflammation in FMF. The potential effect of KIR genes on amyloidosis and other clinical features requires studies with larger sample sizes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erken
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Balcali Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goruroglu Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology/Immunology, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kudas
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology/Immunology, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arslan Tas
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirtas
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Balcali Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kibar
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology/Immunology, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dinkci
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology/Immunology, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D000071198:Pyrin; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C433932:KIR2DS2 protein, human; C000604192:MEFV protein, human; D000071198:Pyrin; D054340:Receptors, KIR