Immune Netw.  2005 Sep;5(3):179-185. 10.4110/in.2005.5.3.179.

Association of KIR (Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor) Genotype with Psoriasis in Korean Population

• Choi EJ
• Choi HB
• Kim SY
• Yoon HY
• Park MJ
• Kim TY
• Kim TG

• KMID: 2150614
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2005.5.3.179

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a multifactorial autoimmune skin disease with a pathogenesis that has remained obscure. Recently, T cells bearing natural killer receptors (NKRs) were precisely and strongly targeted as new putative pathogenic immunocytes in psoriasis. Among NKRs, killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) is the major molecule recognizing HLA class I allotypes and might be closely related to psoriasis. METHODS: To investigate the association of KIR genotype and patients with psoriasis in Korean, we defined the 14 KIR genotypes in 96 patients with psoriasis and 86 healthy controls using PCR-SSP methods. RESULTS: The frequencies of KIR2DS4 and KIR3DL1 were significantly decreased in psoriasis compared with controls (RR=0.21, p<0.02). When patients were divided into two subgroups at the age of onset, type I (<30 years) and type II (> or =30 years) respectively, these phenomena were similarly observed independent of groups divided (type I: RR=0.26, p<0.005; type II: RR=0.14, p<0.0006). When the patients were divided into subgroups according to the age of onset and family history, the frequencies of KIR2DS4, KIR3DL1, and KIR2DS3 were significantly decreased in type I compared with type II psoriasis (3DL1, 2DS4: p<0.004; 2DS3: p<0.04) and were significantly decreased in psoriasis without family history compared to with family history (3DL1, 2DS4: p<0.007; 2DS3: p<0.05). The frequency of haplotype combination BB was significantly increased in psoriasis compared with controls (RR=2.74, p<0.009). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that KIR genotype is a factor for the occurrence and development of psoriasis and in future how combinations of HLA and KIR genes influence psoriasis needs to be defined.

Keyword

KIR (killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor); the haplotype combination BB; KIR3DL1; KIR2DS4; KIR2DS3

MeSH Terms

Age of Onset
Genotype*
Haplotypes
Humans
Psoriasis*
Receptors, KIR
Skin Diseases
T-Lymphocytes
Receptors, KIR