The outcome of HSCT is strongly in?uenced by the genetic similarity or
identity in the HLA genes that affects the incidence of graft-versus-host
disease (GvHD). Successful allogeneic HSCT, however, depends also on T-cell
mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect, in which donor-derived T cells
and natural killer (NK) cells kill these malignant cells in the patient,
therefore playing a crucial role in relapse prevention. The aim of this study
was to make the predictive analysis of the structure and distribution of B
KIR alleles and centromeric and telomeric KIR genotypes in HSCT donors in
Vojvodina with regard to their contribution to protection from relapse. A
total of 124 first-degree relatives of patients with hematological
malignancies were examined for the presence or absence of 15 KIR genes by
using of PCR-SSO technique with Luminex xMap technology. The percentage of
individuals carrying each KIR gene, centromeric and telomeric KIR haplotypes
and genotypes was determined by direct counting. Sixty two percent of the
HSCT donors in Vojvodina carry A KIR haplotype, while nearly 38% carry B KIR
haplotype. The distribution of B KIR genes showed that among 124 studied HSCT
donors, 31(25%) do not carry none of the KIR genes belonging to B group,
71.77% of donors have two or more B KIR genes, 61.29% of them carry KIR 2DL2
and 2DS2 or more B KIR genes. The analysis of centromeric and telomeric KIR
genotypes, showed that Cen-A1/Tel-A1 genotype had a highest frequency of
51.47% and Cen-B2/Tel-B1 the lowest frequency of 1.30%. The usage of donor
KIR B gene content and centromeric and telomeric KIR gene structure could be
used in development of a simple algorithm to identify donors who will provide
the most protection against the relapse in related HSC transplants.
KIR gene complexity in primates
