Increased frequencies of activating natural killer receptors are associated with liver injury in individual who do not eliminate hepatitic C virus

N. PALADINO; A. C. FLORES; C. Y. MARCOS; H. FAINBOIM; G. THEILER; L. ARRUVITO; F. WILLIAMS; D. MIDDLETON; L. FAINBOIM

TISSUE ANTIGENS

Año: 2007 vol. 69 p. 109 - 111

0001-2815

This study was designed to investigate the role of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes in the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In patients who cleared the virus (HCV RNA-) we found a decrease of 2DL2 (P = 0.04), and 2DS2 (P = 0.014) accompanied by an increase of 2DS5 (P = 0.04). Those RNA+ patients with elevated levels of hepatic transaminases (HCV RNA+ elevated alanine aminotransferase) showed an increased frequency of 2DS3 (P= 0.018). Additionally, in cirrhotic patients we found an increased frequency of individuals having two copies of 3DS1 and HLA-Bw4 (P = 0.016). We conclude that higher natural killer cytotoxicity might be associated with a worse progression of the HCV infection.