P063Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors genotypes & haplotypes among kuwaiti families

Abstract

Aim Inhibitory and activating immunoglobulin like receptor (KIR) family is a major determinant of NK cells activity against cancer. Specific KIR genotypes and/or haplotypes have been reported to influence the outcomes of hematopoietic cell transplantation and in association with a number of autoimmune disorders. The repertoire of KIR genes varies within and between populations, creating a diverse pool of KIR genotypes. The aim of this study was to characterize the genotypes and haplotypes of the KIR genes among 25 Kuwaiti Arab families. Methods A total of 75 individuals from 25 Kuwaiti Arab trios families (including father, mother and a child) were enrolled in this study. KIR genotyping was performed using Real-time PCR based KIR genotyping kit (Linkage Biosciences) from peripheral blood. Sequence specific primer amplification combined with a melting curve analysis method was used to identify 14 KIR genes and 2 KIR pseudogenes including both full length and deleted forms of 3DP1 and 2DS4. Interpretation and reporting of genotype with SureTyperTM software. Results The percentage for the presence of the KIR genes was found to be: KIR2DL1 97.2%, KIR2DL2 56.3%, KIR2DL3 88.7%, KIR2DL4 100%, KIR2DL5 62%, KIR2DP1 97.2%, KIR2DS1 35.2%, KIR2DS2 56.3%, KIR2DS3 42.3%, KIR2DS4 95.8%, KIR2DS5 31%, KIR3DL1 95.8%, KIR3DL2 100%, KIR3DL3 100%, KIR3DP1 100%, KIR3DS1 36.7%. The framework genes were present in 100% for all 75 individuals. The highest frequency of 97% is in 2DP1 and 2DL1 gene and lowest frequency of 31% among KIR genes is in 2DS5. Only 32% of the tested subjects were of AA haplotype genotype, making 68% Bx haplotype genotype. Conclusions Findings of this study are crucial to characterize and compare KIR gene and haplotype frequencies with other populations and also to provide a new data on KIR genotypes and haplotypes of the Kuwaiti Arab population based on family study to understand the population’s genetic makeup. Further, majority of Kuwaiti patients have a several healthy haploidentical relatives who could potentially donate, therefore donor activating KIR-based donor selection is an area of current interest.