Infectious Agents and Cancer (Apr 2012)

Activating KIR/HLA complexes in classic Kaposi's Sarcoma

  • Guerini Franca R,
  • Mancuso Roberta,
  • Agostini Simone,
  • Agliardi Cristina,
  • Zanzottera Milena,
  • Hernis Ambra,
  • Tourlaki Athanasia,
  • Calvo Maria G,
  • Bellinvia Monica,
  • Brambilla Lucia,
  • Clerici Mario

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1750-9378-7-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Classic Kaposi's Sarcoma (cKS) is a rare vascular tumor associated with Human Herpesvirus 8 (KSHV) infection, nevertheless not all KSHV-infected individuals have cKS. Objective We investigated whether particular KIR/HLA receptor/ligand genotypes would be preferentially present in KSHV-infected and uninfected individuals who have or have not developed cKS. Methods KIR/HLA genotypes were analyzed by molecular genotyping in 50 KSHV-infected individuals who did or did not have cKS and in 33 age-and sex-matched KSHV seronegative individuals. Results There was no association of individual KIR, HLA or receptor ligand combinations with KSHV infection. However, activating KIR and KIR/HLA genotypes were significantly more frequent in cKS cases, specifically KIR3DS1, KIR2DS1, and KIR2DS1 with its HLA-C2 ligand. Conclusion A nonspecific inflammatory response triggered by activation of NK cells upon KIR-HLA interaction could be associated with the pathogenesis of KS.

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