RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is multifactorial, thus genetic factors such as HLA and immunoglobulins-like killer receptors (KIR) could be predisposed to the development of the disease. Aim To evaluate whether any HLA classi allele and its combination with KIR could be related to the development of TB in the Wichi Amerindian community in north-eastern Argentina. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted that included 18 families, 35 individuals affected with TB, 84 cohabiting families, and 63 controls of the same ethnic group. A and B loci of HLA classi were typed by generic PCR followed by reverse hybridization (Dynal), locus C by PCR-SSOP. KIR receptors were studied using sequence specific PCR. RESULTS: There was a highly significant association with allele B*35:19/47 in TB vs. household contacts [Pc=0.0051] and vs. controls [Pc=0.0033], and with allele HLA-C*03 in TB vs. household contacts [Pc=0.014] and vs. controls [Pc=0.0033]. KIR receptors had shown increased KIR2DL3/KIR2DL3 frequency in combination with the C1 group of HLA-C (P=.018). HLA-C*03 belongs to C1 group, and this combination could have a strong inhibitory action on the infected cell. CONCLUSION: HLA-B35:19/47-C*03 haplotype could be a susceptibility factor to TB and KIR2DL3-HLA-C1 combination have an inhibitory capacity on NK cells, and might contribute to the course of the infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.