KIR Gene Content in Amerindians Indicates Influence of Demographic Factors

Abstract

Although the KIR gene content polymorphism has been studied worldwide, only a few isolated or Amerindian populations have been analyzed. This extremely diverse gene family codifies receptors that are expressed mainly in NK cells and bind HLA class I molecules. KIR-HLA combinations have been associated to several diseases and population studies are important to comprehend their evolution and their role in immunity. Here we analyzed, by PCR-SSP (specific sequencing priming), 327 individuals from four isolated groups of two of the most important Brazilian Amerindian populations: Kaingang and Guarani. The pattern of KIR diversity among these and other ten Amerindian populations disclosed a wide range of variation for both KIR haplotypes and gene frequencies, indicating that demographic factors, such as bottleneck and founder effects, were the most important evolutionary factors in shaping the KIR polymorphism in these populations.

Variability of innate immune system genes in Native American populations—relationship with history and epidemiology

“…Several studies have demonstrated that Native American populations have a differentiated pattern of variability in the immune system, either in HLA-KIR diversity or in the adaptive profile (Tsuneto et al, 2003;Augusto et al, 2013Augusto et al, , 2015Lindenau et al, 2013). They showed a reduced number of HLA and KIR alleles in relation to non-Native populations, that was considered as one of the explanations for their differentiated susceptibility to introduced diseases (Augusto et al, 2013(Augusto et al, , 2015Lindenau et al, 2014).…”

“…There are several evidences showing that Native American populations are immunologically different from non-Native populations (Hurtado et al, 2004;Lindenau et al, 2013). Several investigations reported that Native American populations have a lower variability in several immune system genes such as KM, GM, Kell, HLA, and KIR (Bhatia et al, 1995;Black and Pandey, 1997;Black, 2004;Prugnolle et al, 2005;Augusto et al, 2013Augusto et al, , 2015. Recently it has been reported that the pattern of adaptive immune system variability in Amerindians populations differs from that observed in the HapMap CEU population as evaluated by F ST analyses (Lindenau et al, 2013).…”

Characterization of human killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) among healthy Saudis

“…KIR genotypes are a set of KIR genes found in one person and are considered to be more informative markers for differentiating human ethnic groups than the gene frequencies [21]. As indicated in Fig.…”

The role of variants from the innate immune system genes in tuberculosis and skin test response in a Native American population

“…Low diversity was observed in South Native American populations for several genetic markers, among them HLA, KIR, and microsatellites [4][5][6]12]. The Aché population was the one with the lowest observed heterozygosity among the Native American populations studied for the above mentioned markers.…”

“…This differential susceptibility is usually explained by the nontraditional variability in the HLA/KIR, adaptive and innate immune systems genes [4][5][6][7]. The reduced variability in the HLA system was associated with higher purified protein derivative skin test response (PPD) reaction in the Aché population [8].…”