Association of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genes 2DS4 and its variant KIR1D with syphilis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes, KIR2DS4 and its variant KIR1D for an association with syphilis in the comparison between syphilis patients and unrelated healthy subjects. Methods One hundred and ninety syphilis patients and 192 unrelated healthy subjects were performed to determine the KIR genotypes by PCR-SSP method. The gene frequencies of KIR2DS4 and KIR1D were analyzed for an association with syphilis in the patients and healthy people who belonged to KIR gene haplotype A. Results Of 192 healthy individuals, 187 were identified with a KIR2DS4 gene. And 91 individuals were classified as homozygous haplotype A with the percent of 48.7% (91/187) in 187 KIR2DS4 positive individuals. Of 190 syphilis patients, 181 were identified with a KIR2DS4 gene. And 89 individuals were classified as homozygous haplotype A with the percent of 49.2% (89/181) in 181 KIR2DS4 positive individuals. The frequency of KIR1D/KIR1D in syphilis patients classified as haplotype A was 16.9%, and was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.6%, P=0.032). However, there was no significant difference for the frequencies of KIR2DS4/KIR2DS4 and KIR2DS4/KIR1D between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion KIR1D/KIR1D might be associated with syphilis in the comparison between syphilis patients and unrelated healthy controls who were classified as homozygous haplotype A.