Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene's repertoire in rheumatoid arthritis
1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. jehsye@kmu.edu.tw
Objective:
To investigate the role of the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene's repertoire in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Taiwan.
Methods:
KIR genotypes were determined in 122 patients with RA and 96 healthy controls by the sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-C genotyping was also performed simultaneously in 72 patients and 66 controls by the SSP-PCR method.
Results:
The total carriage frequency of KIR 2DS4 regardless of corresponding HLA-Cw4 was significantly increased in RA patients compared with controls [p<0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-3.4, Pc<0.01]. The total carriage frequency of KIR 2DL1 regardless of corresponding HLA-C also tended to be increased in RA patients (p<0.02, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.2-3.9, Pc = not significant). The frequency of KIR 2DS4 with corresponding HLA-Cw4 was increased in RA patients in comparison with controls (p = 0.02, OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.1-9.4). Moreover, the association of RA with KIR 2DS4 depended on the presence of the corresponding HLA-Cw4.
Conclusions:
KIR 2DS4 may be a risk factor for susceptibility to RA in Taiwan.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Diversity of Antigen Receptors
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
