Lack of association of the KIR and HLA class I ligands with ZIKV infection in south and southeast of Brazil

BACKGROUND Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus associated with foetal malformations and neurological complications. The infection is usually associated with mild symptoms. The comparison between the allelic frequency of polymorphic genes in symptomatic infected individuals in the population can clarify the pathogenic mechanisms of ZIKV. During ZIKV infection, cytokines are produced and natural killer (NK) cells are recruited, whose activation depends on signaling pathways activated by specific receptors, such as killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). These molecules interact with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I ligands and are encoded by polymorphic genes. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of allelic variants of the genes encoding the KIR receptors and their HLA class I ligands in 139 symptomatic ZIKV-patients and 170 controls negative for the virus, and to evaluate the role of these variants for ZIKV susceptibility. METHODS KIR and HLA class I genes were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) technique. FINDINGS No significant differences in the frequency distribution of KIRs and KIR-HLA in patients compared to controls were observed. MAIN CONCLUSIONS KIR and its HLA ligands might play a minor role in ZIKV infection in the south and southeast Brazilian individuals.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Elpidio,Laise Nayana Sala, de Moraes,Amarilis Giaretta, Langer,Ieda Bernadete Volkweis, do Amaral,Greicy Cezar, Moretti,Maria Luiza, Garcia,Márcia Teixeira, Angerami,Rodrigo, Proenca-Modena,José Luiz, Bispo-dos-Santos,Karina, Martini,Matheus Cavalheiro, Parise,Pierina Lorencini, Ayo,Christiane Maria, de Mattos,Luiz Carlos, Brandão,Cinara Cássia, Nogueira,Maurício Lacerda, Oliani,Denise Cristina Mós Vaz, Spegiorin,Lígia Cosentino Junqueira Franco, de Lima Neto,Quirino Alves, Visentainer,Jeane Eliete Laguila
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2022
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762022000101119
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!