Distribution of KIR Genes Among Hepatitis C Virus Infected Blood Donors in Guangdong Province

Abstract

Objective To investigate the distribution of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes among hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected blood donors in Guangdong provinceand provide basic data for further research of mechanism between KIR and HCV infection,Methods From February 2009 to June 2012,a total of 170 HCV infected individuals were randomly selected from volunteer blood donors in Guangdong by computer.The genotypes of KIR were detected by polymerase chin reaction restriction sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO),followed by frequency calculating and statistical analysis.Results Among the Guangdong population of HCV infection,framework genes KIR 2DL4,3DL2,3DL3 and 3DP1 were found in all samples.Genes KIR 2DL1,2DP1,2DL3,2DS4 and 3DL1 were in high frequencies with 0.923,0.923,0.923,0.684 and 0.770 respectively.Genes KIR 2DL2,2DL5,2DS1,2DS2,2DS3,2DS5,3DS1 were in low frequencies with 0.129,0.244,0.214,0.119,0.116,0.139 and 0.218 respectively.30 genotypes were observed,among which genotype 1 was the most common with the gene frequency of 0.459.Three new genotypes were identified in this research.KIR2DS3 had a higher frequency in HCV infected individuals than in healthy populations in China (x2=4.733,P =0.030).Conclusions These findings suggest that there are distinctive frequencies of KIR genes content,haplotype as well as genotype in Guangdong population of HCV infection.KIR2DS3 gene may be involved in HCV infection.Our study might provide valuable evidence for the research of the correlation between KIR and HCV infection. Key words: Receptors, KIR; Hepatitis C antibodies; Blood donors; Genotype; Gene frequencies