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KIR3DL1 genetic diversity and phenotypic variation in the Chinese Han population

Genes & Immunity volume 15, pages 8–15 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Allelic polymorphism and expression variation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) 3DL1 on natural killer (NK) cells differ among populations. To determine whether the phenotypic variants are due to KIR polymorphism, transcription or copy number, the allelic polymorphism, mRNA levels and antigen expression of KIR3DL1 were assessed in 162 individuals. We characterized 13 KIR3DL1 alleles, five of which were novel. In addition, 21 genotypes were identified. The correlation between the binding patterns of NK cells to anti-KIR3DL1 and KIR3DL1 alleles was also examined. NK cells with different 3DL1 alleles showed distinct binding levels to anti-KIR3DL1. The binding frequencies of NK cells to anti-KIR3DL1 were not accordant with their binding levels, but both associated with the allele copy numbers. The mRNA expression amounts of individuals with two copy alleles were higher than those of individuals with one copy allele. Our data indicate that both the allele copy number and polymorphism of KIR3DL1 influence the antigen expression on the NK-cell surface, but only the copy number was associated with mRNA expression.

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Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of High-Level Innovative Health Talents, by the Science Research Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Y2090988 and LY12H10001) and by Science Research Foundation of Zhejiang Healthy Bureau (2012KYA061).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    S D Tao, Y M He, Y L Ying, J He, F M Zhu & H J Lv

  2. Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research, Ministry of Health, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    S D Tao, Y M He, Y L Ying, J He, F M Zhu & H J Lv

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  1. S D Tao
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  2. Y M He
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  3. Y L Ying
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Correspondence to F M Zhu.

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Tao, S., He, Y., Ying, Y. et al. KIR3DL1 genetic diversity and phenotypic variation in the Chinese Han population. Genes Immun 15, 8–15 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2013.55

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