Killer ‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors and cytomegalovirus reactivation during late pregnancy

In this study, we set out to determine whether a protective effect of KIR genes over CMV infection is seen in Mexican pregnant women. Cytomegalovirus infection was assessed through nucleic acid testing in 200 pregnant women and 600 healthy blood donors comprising the Mexican mestizo reference population. Killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors and HLA‐C genotypes were obtained from 200 pregnant women and 300 reference samples using a comprehensive PCR‐SSP approach. We observed statistically lower carrier frequencies of cB03|tA01 gene‐content haplotype, of cB03 haplotype motif, of the KIR2DL5 + 2DS3/2DS5 gene pair and of KIR2DL5 amongst CMV‐positive pregnant women in comparison with those CMV negative. None of these were associated with CMV status in the reference population. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the most important factor determining CMV status during third‐trimester pregnancies was the KIR2DL5 + 2DS3/2DS5 gene pair (OR 0.376 (95%CI 0.174, 0.811, P = 0.013). Our results indicate that CMV‐protective KIR gene associations described in Caucasoid populations are also present in the genetically distinct Mexican mestizo population. Our results suggest that certain KIR gene combinations provide protection against CMV infections occurring during late‐term pregnancies, a finding of utmost epidemiological importance given its implication with congenital CMV infections.
Source: International Journal of Immunogenetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research