[Study on KIR gene polymorphisms in 416 renal transplantation recipients from southern Zhejiang].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate polymorphisms of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene (KIR) in renal transplant recipients from southern Zhejiang. METHODS: KIR genotypes were analyzed by PCR-SSP in 416 renal transplant recipients, and the genotype frequencies were compared with populations from Eastern China and worldwide. RESULTS: All 16 known KIR genes were detected in the renal transplant recipients, and KIR2DL4, 3DL2-3, 3PD1 were found in all. As a pseudogene, 2DP1 has a high genotype frequency (99%). The frequencies of KIR2DL1, 2DL3, 3DL1, 2DS4 have ranged from 92.1% to 98.8%. Compared with 11 groups in Eastern China and other countries, the KIR2DL2 phenotype frequency was higher (34.6%) than those of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu populations (P<0.05). Among 41 genotypes, three have not been reported previously. The most common genotype was AA1, with a frequency of 43.51%, which was significantly lower than those of Jiangsu and Northern Zhejiang. CONCLUSION: Renal transplant recipients from southern Zhejiang share similar features with Eastern China Han population with regard to KIR polymorphisms, but also have unique frequencies for KIR genotypes.