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

To investigate polymorphisms of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene (KIR) in renal transplant recipients from southern Zhejiang.

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.

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.

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.