Anna Aiello*, Giuseppina Candore*, Giulia Accardi, Calogero Caruso, Claudia Colomba, Giovanni Duro, Caterina Maria Gambino, Mattia Emanuela Ligotti and Danilo Di Bona Pages 3113 - 3122 ( 10 )
Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate the activation of natural killer cells through their interaction with human leucocyte antigens (HLA). KIRs and HLA loci are highly polymorphic, and some of their combinations have been found to protect against viral infections or to predispose to autoimmune disorders. In particular, some activating KIRs profiles may be detrimental in autoimmune pathogenesis, and specific KIRs may be particularly aggressive in the clearance of different microorganisms, protecting individuals in the control of a given pathogen. So, considering that in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune disorders and infections innate immunity plays a key role, the recent development for KIRs characterization, diseases monitoring, and treatment becomes obvious. Here, we reviewed a growing body of evidence supporting the influence of KIRs variants and their interaction with ligands in the development of the main human autoimmune and viral diseases, highlighting the main applications in clinical practice.
Autoimmune diseases, HLA ligands, immunogenetics, KIRs, translational medicine, viral infections.
University of Palermo, Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of General Pathology, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, University of Palermo, Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of General Pathology, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, University of Palermo, Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of General Pathology, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, University of Palermo, Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of General Pathology, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, University of Palermo, Department of Health and Maternal-Infant Promotion Sciences “G. D’Alessandro”, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, National Research Council, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Via Ugo La Malfa n. 153, 90146 Palermo, University of Palermo, Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of General Pathology, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, University of Palermo, Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of General Pathology, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Emergency and Organ Trasplants, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124, Bari