PLoS Pathogens (Oct 2011)

KIR2DL2 enhances protective and detrimental HLA class I-mediated immunity in chronic viral infection.

  • Nafisa-Katrin Seich Al Basatena,
  • Aidan Macnamara,
  • Alison M Vine,
  • Chloe L Thio,
  • Jacquie Astemborski,
  • Koichiro Usuku,
  • Mitsuhiro Osame,
  • Gregory D Kirk,
  • Sharyne M Donfield,
  • James J Goedert,
  • Charles R M Bangham,
  • Mary Carrington,
  • Salim I Khakoo,
  • Becca Asquith

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002270
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 10
p. e1002270

Abstract

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Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) influence both innate and adaptive immunity. But while the role of KIRs in NK-mediated innate immunity is well-documented, the impact of KIRs on the T cell response in human disease is not known. Here we test the hypothesis that an individual's KIR genotype affects the efficiency of their HLA class I-mediated antiviral immune response and the outcome of viral infection. We show that, in two unrelated viral infections, hepatitis C virus and human T lymphotropic virus type 1, possession of the KIR2DL2 gene enhanced both protective and detrimental HLA class I-restricted anti-viral immunity. These results reveal a novel role for inhibitory KIRs. We conclude that inhibitory KIRs, in synergy with T cells, are a major determinant of the outcome of persistent viral infection.