title: Genotypic diversity of the Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) and their HLA class I Ligands in a Saudi population.
abstract: Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) have been used as good markers for the study of genetic predisposition in many diseases and in human genetic population dynamics. In this context, we have investigated the genetic diversity of KIR genes and their main HLA class I ligands in Saudi population and compared the data with other studies of neighboring populations. One hundred and fourteen randomly selected healthy Saudi subjects were genotyped for the presence or absence of 16 KIR genes and their HLA-C1, -C2, -Bw4Thr80 and Bw4Ile80 groups, using a PCR-SSP technique. The results show the occurrence of the framework genes (3DL2, 3DL3 and 2DL4) and the pseudogenes (2DP1 and 3DP1) at highest frequencies. All inhibitory KIR (iKIR) genes appeared at higher frequencies than activating genes (aKIR), except for 2DS4 with a frequency of 90.35%. A total of 55 different genotypes were observed appearing at different frequencies, where 12 are considered novel. Two haplotypes were characterized, AA and Bx (BB and AB), which were observed in 24.5% and 75.5% respectively of the studied group. The frequencies of iKIR + HLA associations were found to be much higher than aKIR + HLA. KIR genes frequencies in the Saudi population are comparable with other Middle Eastern and North African populations.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Suliman Y Al
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Afrah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alkuriji
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alwasel
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory College of Science, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Javid Ahmed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Alwaleed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christmas
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lamjed
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mansour