Exploring the Role of Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors and Their HLA Class I Ligands in Autoimmune Hepatitis

Unveiling the Significance of HLA and KIR Diversity in Underrepresented Populations

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules and their relationships with natural killer (NK) cells, specifically through their interaction with killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), exhibit robust associations with the outcomes of diverse diseases. Moreover, genetic variations in HLA and KIR immune system genes offer limitless depths of complexity. In recent years, a surge of high-powered genome-wide association studies (GWASs) utilizing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays has occurred, significantly advancing our understanding of disease pathogenesis. Additionally, advances in HLA reference panels have enabled higher resolution and more reliable imputation, allowing for finer-grained evaluation of the association between sequence variations and disease risk. However, it is essential to note that the majority of these GWASs have focused primarily on populations of Caucasian and Asian origins, neglecting underrepresented populations in Latin America and Africa. This omission not only leads to disparities in health care access but also restricts our knowledge of novel genetic variants involved in disease pathogenesis within these overlooked populations. Since the KIR and HLA haplotypes prevalent in each population are clearly modelled by the specific environment, the aim of this review is to encourage studies investigating HLA/KIR involvement in infection and autoimmune diseases, reproduction, and transplantation in underrepresented populations.

The double-sided of human leukocyte antigen-G molecules in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis

The immunomodulatory effects of HLA-G expression and its role in cancers, human liver infections and liver transplantation are well documented, but so far, there are only a few reports addressing autoimmune liver diseases, particularly autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Contribution of HLA and KIR Alleles to Systemic Sclerosis Susceptibility and Immunological and Clinical Disease Subtypes

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoinflammatory, fibrotic condition of unknown aetiology. The presence of detectable autoantibodies against diverse nuclear antigens, as well as strong HLA associations with disease, suggest autoimmune involvement, however the links between endogenous and exogenous risk factors and SSc pathology remain undetermined. We have conducted a genetic analysis of HLA inheritance in two independent and meta-analysed cohorts of 1,465 SSc cases and 13,273 controls, including stratified association analyses in clinical and autoantibody positive subgroups of disease. Additionally, we have used patient genotypes to impute gene dosages across the KIR locus, encoding paired activating and inhibitory lymphocyte receptors for Class I HLA ligands, to conduct the largest analysis of KIR-HLA epistatic interactions in SSc to date. We confirm previous Class II HLA associations with SSc risk and report a new Class I association with haplotype HLA-B*44:03-HLA-C*16:01 at genome-wide significance (GWS). We further report statistically significant HLA associations with clinical and serological subtypes of disease through direct case-case comparison, and report a new association of HLA-DRB1*15:01, previously shown to bind topoisomerase-1 derived peptides, with anti-topoisomerase (ATA) positive disease. Finally, we identify genetic epistasis between KIRs and HLA class I ligands, suggesting genetic modulation of lymphocyte activation may further contribute to an individual’s underlying disease risk. Taken together, these findings support future functional investigation into endogenous immunological and environmental stimuli for disrupted immune tolerance in SSc.

T cells discriminate between groups C1 and C2 HLA-C

Dimorphic amino acids at positions 77 and 80 delineate HLA-C allotypes into two groups, C1 and C2, which associate with disease through interactions with C1 and C2-specific natural killer cell receptors. How the C1/C2 dimorphism affects T cell recognition is unknown. Using HLA-C allotypes that differ only by the C1/C2-defining residues, we found that KRAS-G12D neoantigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) discriminated between C1 and C2 presenting the same KRAS-G12D peptides. Structural and functional experiments, and immunopeptidomics analysis revealed that Ser77 in C1 and Asn77 in C2 influence amino acid preference near the peptide C-terminus (pΩ), including the pΩ-1 position, in which C1 favors small and C2 prefers large residues. This resulted in weaker TCR affinity for KRAS-G12D-bound C2-HLA-C despite conserved TCR contacts. Thus, the C1/C2 dimorphism on its own impacts peptide presentation and HLA-C-restricted T cell responses, with implications in disease, including adoptive T cell therapy targeting KRAS-G12D-induced cancers.

Association of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genes KIR2DS1 and KIR2DS4 with pediatric autoimmune hepatitis type I in Egypt

Background

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are considered to be the key receptors that control the development and function of human natural killer cells which play complex mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. We aimed in this study to assess possible associations between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR2DS1 and 2DS4) genes and susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis type I in Egyptian children.

Results

In the case-control study conducted on eighty children diagnosed as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) type I and eighty apparently healthy age and sex-matched control, we found that KIR2DS1, -2DS4, KIR2DS4-full length allele, and homozygous KIR2DS4-full/full variant were significantly associated with AIH-I, while the KIR1D allele and homozygous KIR2DS4-del/del variant were significantly observed in controls (P < 0.05 each). Absence of KIR2DS4 gene was significant among ANA positive AIH-I patients, patients on steroid therapy alone, and patients showing complete disease remission (P < 0.05 each). Higher activity and fibrosis indices were found significantly in patients lacking one or both studied genes.

Conclusions

Children carrying KIR2DS1, -2DS4 genes, KIR2DS4-full length allele, and homozygous KIR2DS4-full/full variant could be more susceptible to develop autoimmune hepatitis type I.

The role of natural killer cells in liver inflammation

The liver is an important immunological site that can promote immune tolerance or activation. Natural killer (NK) cells are a major immune subset within the liver, and therefore understanding their role in liver homeostasis and inflammation is crucial. Due to their cytotoxic function, NK cells are important in the immune response against hepatotropic viral infections but are also involved in the inflammatory processes of autoimmune liver diseases and fatty liver disease. Whether NK cells primarily promote pro-inflammatory or tolerogenic responses is not known for many liver diseases. Understanding the involvement of NK cells in liver inflammation will be crucial in effective treatment and future immunotherapeutic targeting of NK cells in these disease settings. Here, we explore the role that NK cells play in inflammation of the liver in the context of viral infection, autoimmunity and fatty liver disease.

Genetic aspects of adult and pediatric autoimmune hepatitis: A concise review

Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is a heterogenous, mostly chronic liver disease that affects people of all age groups, women more often than men. The aim of therapy is to prevent cirrhosis, as it mainly accounts for liver-related mortality in patients with AIH. Rates of remission are high in patients with AIH, but life-long immunosuppressive therapy is required. AIH is hypothesized to originate from immunologic reactivity targeted against mostly unknown self-antigens, potentially triggered by viral infections among other factors. While AIH does not follow a Mendelian inheritance pattern, part of the risk of developing AIH or worse disease course, is attributed to specific genetic risk factors. Major associations for the risk of development of AIH were found for HLA-DRB1*03:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:01 in adult AIH in the only genome-wide association study on AIH. However, other potential risk loci in SH2B3, CARD10 and KIR genes were described. This review covers the current knowledge on genetic risk factors in adult and pediatric AIH.

Genetic risk factors for autoimmune hepatitis: implications for phenotypic heterogeneity and biomarkers for drug response

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare chronic progressive liver disease with autoimmune features. It mainly affects middle-aged women. AIH is occasionally complicated with liver cirrhosis that worsens the prognosis. Genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of AIH. Genetic studies of other diseases have been revealing of pathogenesis and drug efficacy. In this review, we summarize the genetic risk factors for AIH, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA genes. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) on European AIH revealed the strongest associations to be with single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in HLA. Predisposing alleles for AIH were DRB1*03:01 and DRB1*04:01 in Europeans; DRB1*04:04, DRB1*04:05, and DRB1*13:01 in Latin Americans; and DRB1*04:01 and DRB1*04:05 in Japanese. Other risk SNVs in non-HLA genes for AIH were found by a candidate gene approach, but several SNVs were confirmed in replication studies. Some genetic factors of AIH overlapped with those of other autoimmune diseases. Larger-scale GWASs of other ethnic groups are required. The results of genetic studies might provide an explanation for the phenotypic heterogeneity of AIH and biomarkers for drug responses.

Human Leukocyte Antigen Complex and Other Immunogenetic and Clinical Factors Influence Susceptibility or Protection to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severity of the Disease Course. The Sardinian Experience

Aim

SARS-CoV-2 infection is a world-wide public health problem. Several aspects of its pathogenesis and the related clinical consequences still need elucidation. In Italy, Sardinia has had very low numbers of infections. Taking advantage of the low genetic polymorphism in the Sardinian population, we analyzed clinical, genetic and immunogenetic factors, with particular attention to HLA class I and II molecules, to evaluate their influence on susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical outcome.

Method and Materials

We recruited 619 healthy Sardinian controls and 182 SARS-CoV-2 patients. Thirty-nine patients required hospital care and 143 were without symptoms, pauci-symptomatic or with mild disease. For all participants, we collected demographic and clinical data and analyzed the HLA allele and haplotype frequencies.

Results

Male sex and older age were more frequent in hospitalized patients, none of whom had been vaccinated during the previous seasonal flu vaccination campaignes. Compared to the group of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic patients, hospitalized patients also had a higher frequency of autoimmune diseases and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PDH) deficiency. None of these patients carried the beta-thalassemia trait, a relatively common finding in the Sardinian population. The extended haplotype HLA-A*02:05, B*58:01, C*07:01, DRB1*03:01 [OR 0.1 (95% CI 0-0.6), Pc = 0.015] was absent in all 182 patients, while the HLA-C*04:01 allele and the three-loci haplotype HLA-A*30:02, B*14:02, C*08:02 [OR 3.8 (95% CI 1.8-8.1), Pc = 0.025] were more frequently represented in patients than controls. In a comparison between in-patients and home care patients, the HLA-DRB1*08:01 allele was exclusively present in the hospitalized patients [OR > 2.5 (95% CI 2.7-220.6), Pc = 0.024].

Conclusion

The data emerging from our study suggest that the extended haplotype HLA-A*02:05, B*58:01, C*07:01, DRB1*03:01 has a protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Sardinian population. Genetic factors that resulted to have a negative influence on the disease course were presence of the HLA-DRB1*08:01 allele and G6PDH deficiency, but not the beta-thalassemic trait. Absence of influenza vaccination could be a predisposing factor for more severe disease.

Human Leukocyte Antigen Complex and Other Immunogenetic and Clinical Factors Influence Susceptibility or Protection to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severity of the Disease Course. The Sardinian Experience

Aim

SARS-CoV-2 infection is a world-wide public health problem. Several aspects of its pathogenesis and the related clinical consequences still need elucidation. In Italy, Sardinia has had very low numbers of infections. Taking advantage of the low genetic polymorphism in the Sardinian population, we analyzed clinical, genetic and immunogenetic factors, with particular attention to HLA class I and II molecules, to evaluate their influence on susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical outcome.

Method and Materials

We recruited 619 healthy Sardinian controls and 182 SARS-CoV-2 patients. Thirty-nine patients required hospital care and 143 were without symptoms, pauci-symptomatic or with mild disease. For all participants, we collected demographic and clinical data and analyzed the HLA allele and haplotype frequencies.

Results

Male sex and older age were more frequent in hospitalized patients, none of whom had been vaccinated during the previous seasonal flu vaccination campaignes. Compared to the group of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic patients, hospitalized patients also had a higher frequency of autoimmune diseases and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PDH) deficiency. None of these patients carried the beta-thalassemia trait, a relatively common finding in the Sardinian population. The extended haplotype HLA-A*02:05, B*58:01, C*07:01, DRB1*03:01 [OR 0.1 (95% CI 0-0.6), Pc = 0.015] was absent in all 182 patients, while the HLA-C*04:01 allele and the three-loci haplotype HLA-A*30:02, B*14:02, C*08:02 [OR 3.8 (95% CI 1.8-8.1), Pc = 0.025] were more frequently represented in patients than controls. In a comparison between in-patients and home care patients, the HLA-DRB1*08:01 allele was exclusively present in the hospitalized patients [OR > 2.5 (95% CI 2.7-220.6), Pc = 0.024].

Conclusion

The data emerging from our study suggest that the extended haplotype HLA-A*02:05, B*58:01, C*07:01, DRB1*03:01 has a protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Sardinian population. Genetic factors that resulted to have a negative influence on the disease course were presence of the HLA-DRB1*08:01 allele and G6PDH deficiency, but not the beta-thalassemic trait. Absence of influenza vaccination could be a predisposing factor for more severe disease.

Innate lymphocytes: pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of liver diseases and cancer

The liver is a lymphoid organ with unique immunological properties, particularly, its predominant innate immune system. The balance between immune tolerance and immune activity is critical to liver physiological functions and is responsible for the sensitivity of this organ to numerous diseases, including hepatotropic virus infection, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, and liver cancer, which are major health problems globally. In the past decade, with the discovery of liver-resident natural killer cells, the importance of innate lymphocytes with tissue residency has gradually become the focus of research. In this review, we address the current knowledge regarding hepatic innate lymphocytes with unique characteristics, including NK cells, ILC1/2/3s, NKT cells, γδ T cells, and MAIT cells, and their potential roles in liver homeostasis maintenance and the progression of liver diseases and cancer. A better understanding of the immunopathogenesis of hepatic innate lymphocytes will be helpful for proposing effective treatments for liver diseases and cancer.

Novel HLA Class I Alleles Outside the Extended DR3 Haplotype Are Protective against Autoimmune Hepatitis

HLA class II allele, DRB1*03:01, is the most common genetic risk factor for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), but other unrecognized HLA related risks exist.

Activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors: Detection, function and therapeutic use

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) have a central role in the control of natural killer (NK) cell function. The functions of the activating KIRs, as compared to those of the inhibitory KIR, have been more difficult to define due to difficulties in antibody-mediated identification and their apparent low affinities for HLA class I. Immunogenetic studies have shown associations of activating KIRs with the outcome of autoimmune diseases, pregnancy-associated disorders, infectious diseases and cancers. Activating KIR are thus thought to have important roles in the control of natural killer cell functions and their role in disease. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on activating KIR, their ligands and, their roles in the pathogenesis and potential therapy of human diseases.

Entropy of human leukocyte antigen and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor systems in immune-mediated disorders: A pilot study on multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Entropy is a thermodynamic variable statistically correlated with the disorder of a system. The hypothesis that entropy can be used to identify potentially unhealthy conditions was first suggested by Schrödinger, one of the founding fathers of quantum mechanics. Shannon later defined entropy as the quantity of information stored in a system. Shannon's entropy has the advantage of being adaptable across a variety of disciplines, including genetic studies on complex immunogenetic systems such as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) systems.

METHODS

In our study, entropy associated to the HLA and KIR systems was compared between a cohort of 619 Sardinian healthy controls and a group of 270 patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), the latter stratified into 81 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and 189 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

RESULTS

The entropy associated to HLA four-loci haplotypes (A, B, C, DR) and combinations of two inhibitory KIR genes was significantly higher in patients affected by RRMS than in healthy controls. No significant differences were observed for patients with PPMS. By calculating the total HLA and KIR entropy ratio in each subject, it was possible to determine the individual risk of developing MS, particularly RRMS.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to the standard statistical methods used to evaluate immunogenetic parameters associated to immune-mediated disease, the analysis of entropy measures the global disorder status deriving from these parameters. This innovative approach may represent a useful complementary tool to the risk assessment of immune-mediated disorders. Improved risk assessment is particularly important for family members of patients with MS. However, further investigation is warranted to confirm our findings and to evaluate the validity of the entropy-based method in other types of immune-mediated disorders.

KIR/HLA genotypes confer susceptibility and progression in patients with autoimmune hepatitis

Natural killer (NK) cells are key participants in the innate immune response. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are involved in the activation and inhibition of NK cells through the recognition of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules. We investigated the impact of KIR/HLA combinations on susceptibility and long-term clinical outcome in Japanese patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Methods

A total of 154 cases of AIH were recruited at Shinshu University Hospital between 1974 and 2018. KIR genes and HLA class I and II alleles were genotyped in all patients along with 201 healthy individuals. Associations between KIR/HLA pairs and clinical outcomes (liver decompensation and liver-related death) were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model with stepwise method.

Results

After a median follow-up period of 11.1 years, 12% of patients experienced liver decompensation and 8% died from liver disease. KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-80Ile (p = 0.0062) and the HLA-DRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01 haplotype (p ≪0.001) were significantly associated with AIH. Conversely, significant protective associations were found for KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-80Thr (p = 0.0092) and KIR2DL1/HLA-C2 (p = 0.0025). The KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-positive phenotype was strongly associated with a favorable clinical outcome (liver decompensation: hazard ratio [HR] 0.37, p = 0.037; liver-related death: HR 0.26, p = 0.038). Cirrhosis was detected in 16 (10%) patients at diagnosis and was significantly related to poor survival (HR 17.87, p ≪0.001) and progression to liver decompensation (HR 9.00, p ≪0.001).

Conclusions

This study revealed the impact of specific KIR/HLA pairs in AIH susceptibility and progression in Japanese patients. KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-negative patients with AIH and cirrhosis at diagnosis are at high risk of adverse outcomes and require careful surveillance.

Lay summary

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a disease of the liver that can present in acute or chronic hepatitis. We examined whether KIR/HLA pairs were associated with AIH susceptibility or disease progression. KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4 was a novel KIR/HLA pair related to a favorable clinical outcome, while cirrhosis at the initial diagnosis was a risk factor for poor prognosis. Thus, frequent and careful surveillance is advised for KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-negative patients with AIH and cirrhosis.

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KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-80Ile is significantly associated with autoimmune hepatitis.

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KIR2DL1/HLA-C2 and KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4-80Thr have protective associations with autoimmune hepatitis.

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KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4 is a novel KIR/HLA pair related to a favorable outcome in autoimmune hepatitis.

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Combined KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4 and cirrhosis at diagnosis relate to autoimmune hepatitis progression.

Hepatic Natural Killer Cells: Organ-Specific Sentinels of Liver Immune Homeostasis and Physiopathology

The liver is considered a preferential tissue for NK cells residency. In humans, almost 50% of all intrahepatic lymphocytes are NK cells that are strongly imprinted in a liver-specific manner and show a broad spectrum of cellular heterogeneity. Hepatic NK (he-NK) cells play key roles in tuning liver immune response in both physiological and pathological conditions. Therefore, there is a pressing need to comprehensively characterize human he-NK cells to better understand the related mechanisms regulating their effector-functions within the dynamic balance between immune-tolerance and immune-surveillance. This is of particular relevance in the liver that is the only solid organ whose parenchyma is constantly challenged on daily basis by millions of foreign antigens drained from the gut. Therefore, the present review summarizes our current knowledge on he-NK cells in the light of the latest discoveries in the field of NK cell biology and clinical relevance.

Diversity and association of HLA/KIR receptors with type 2 diabetes in South India

The present study was undertaken to delineate the association(s) of KIR-HLA combination in South Indian Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The T2DM patients (n = 343) and healthy controls (n = 309) were genotyped for KIR/HLA ligands by PCR-SSP method. The increased frequency of activatory KIR (aKIR) 2DS2 (OR = 1.91; p < 2.91 × 10^-4 ) was observed in patients suggesting a susceptible association. The frequencies of iKIR 2DL2 (OR = 0.38; p < 1.55 × 10^-5 ) and aKIRs 2DS1 (OR = 0.60; p < 0.001) and 3DS1 (OR = 0.52; p < 5.83 × 10^-5 ) were decreased in patients suggesting protective associations. The C1/C2 combinatorial analysis has revealed an increased frequency of C1⁺ /C2^- in T2DM patients (OR = 1.62; p < 0.014). The KIR "AB" genotype (OR = 2.41; p < 3.87 × 10^-5 ) was observed to be higher in patients. However, the "BB" genotype (OR = 0.32; p < 4.71 × 10^-7 ) was increased in controls. The KIR motifs, "Tel-B/B" (OR = 1.84; p < 0.007), were observed higher among patients. However, the frequency of "Tel-A/B" motif genotype was decreased in patients (OR = 0.56; p < 3.13 × 10^-4 ). The iKIR/HLA combinations such as 2DL2/3 +C1 and 3DL2+A3/A11 were increased in patients (OR = 3.90; p < 7.5 × 10^-5 ) suggesting susceptible associations. On the contrary, the aKIR+HLA combinations such as 2DS2+C1, 2DS1+C2 and 3DS1+Bw4 were less frequent in patients (OR = 0.32; p < 4.2 × 10^-4 ) suggesting protective associations. Thus, the present study clearly establishes the positive and negative associations of different KIR-HLA receptor combinations with T2DM in South India.

PD-1 immunobiology in autoimmune hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Disruption of liver immune tolerance allows for the development of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AIH rarely progresses to HCC but the diseases similarly induce the production of IL-18 and matrix metalloproteinases. These molecules have distinct effects on the immune response, including the programmed cell-death 1 (PD-1) axis. In this review, differences in PD-1 function and possible cell signals in AIH and HCC are highlighted.

Missing or altered self: human NK cell receptors that recognize HLA-C

Natural killer (NK) cells are fast-acting and versatile lymphocytes that are critical effectors of innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and placental development. Controlling NK cell function are the interactions between killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C ligands. Due to the extensive polymorphism of both KIR and HLA class I, these interactions are highly diversified and specific combinations correlate with protection or susceptibility to a range of infectious, autoimmune, and reproductive disorders. Evolutionary, genetic, and functional studies are consistent with the interactions between KIR and HLA-C being the dominant control mechanism of human NK cells. In addition to their recognition of the C1 and C2 epitopes, increasing evidence points to KIR having a previously unrecognized selectivity for the peptide presented by HLA-C. This selectivity appears to be a conserved feature of activating KIR and may partly explain the slow progress made in identifying their HLA class I ligands. The peptide selectivity of KIR allows NK cells to respond, not only to changes in the surface expression of HLA-C, but also to the more subtle changes in the HLA-C peptidome, such as occur during viral infection and malignant transformation. Here, we review recent advances in understanding of human-specific KIR evolution and how the inhibitory and activating HLA-C receptors allow NK cells to respond to healthy cells, diseased cells, and the semi-allogeneic cells of the fetus.

Multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a human leukocyte antigen challenge

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are two different central nervous system pathology that, according to the most accredited hypotheses, recognize a different etiopathogenesis. The simultaneous occurrence of MS and ALS is quite unusual. To our knowledge, only three cases have been so far described by clinical, laboratory, and post-mortem studies. We report four new cases of this peculiar combination that have been observed and are herein described, included their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile studies. On the basis that three out of four patients in our case series presented HLA-B*18:01A, we may hypothesize that this antigen could play a role in developing both diseases.

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor repertoire analysis in a Caucasian Spanish cohort with inflammatory bowel disease

Immunological molecules are implicated in inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]). Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are also genetically variable proteins involved in immune function. They are expressed by NK cells and certain T lymphocytes, regulate specificity and function by interaction with HLA Class I molecules, may be either inhibitory or activating and are polymorphic both in terms of alleles and haplotype gene content. Genetic associations between activating KIRs and certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases have been reported; however, a possible association between KIR and IBD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between KIR repertoire and IBD pathologies in a Spanish cohort. KIR variability was analyzed using PCR-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP). Inhibitory KIR2DL5 was found more frequently in UC and IBD patient groups than in healthy controls (P = 0.028 and P = 0.01, respectively), as was activating KIR2DS1 (P = 0.02, Pc > 0.05, UC vs. Controls; P = 0.001, Pc = 0.01, IBD vs Controls; P = 0.01, Pc > 0.05, Controls vs CR), KIR2DS5 (P = 0.0028, Pc = 0.04, Controls vs UC; P = 0.0001, Pc = 0.0017, Controls vs IBD; P = 0.01, Pc > 0.05, Controls vs CD) and KIR3DS1 (P = 0.012, Pc > 0.05, Controls vs IBD). Our data suggest that imbalance between activating and inhibitory KIR may partially explain the different pathogeneses of these IBDs and that there is a hypothetical role for the telomeric B region (which contains both KIR2DS5 and KIR2DS1) in these diseases.

Killer Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor Profiles Are not Associated with Risk of Amoxicillin-Clavulanate-Induced Liver Injury in Spanish Patients

Natural killer cells are an integral part of the immune system and represent a large proportion of the lymphocyte population in the liver. The activity of these cells is regulated by various cell surface receptors, such as killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) that bind to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I ligands on the target cell. The composition of KIR receptors has been suggested to influence the development of specific diseases, in particularly autoimmune diseases, cancer and reproductive diseases. The role played in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is currently unknown. In this study, we examined KIR gene profiles and HLA class I polymorphisms in amoxicillin-clavulanate (AC) DILI patients in search for potential risk associations. One hundred and two AC DILI patients and 226 controls were genotyped for the presence or absence of 16 KIR loci, including the two pseudogenes 2DP1 and 3DP1. No significant differences were found in the distribution of individual KIRs between patients and controls, which were comparable to previously reported KIR data from ethnically similar cohorts. The 21.6 and 21.2% of the patients and controls, respectively, were homozygous haplotype A carriers, while 78.4 and 78.8%, respectively, contained at least one B haplotype (Bx). The genotypes translated into 27 (AC DILI) and 46 (controls) different gene profiles, with 19 being present in both groups. The most frequent Bx gene profile containing KIRs 2DS2, 2DL2, 2DL3, 2DP1, 2DL1, 3DL1, 2DS4, 3DL2, 3DL3, 2DL4, and 3PD1 was present in 16% of the DILI patients and 14% of the controls. The distribution of HLA class I epitopes did not differ significantly between AC DILI patients and controls. The most frequent receptor-ligand combinations in the DILI patients were 2DL3 + epitope C1 (67%) and 3DL1 + Bw4 motif (67%), while 2DL1 + epitope C2 (69%) and 3DL1 + Bw4 motif (69%) predominated in the controls. This is to our knowledge the first analysis of KIR receptor-HLA ligand associations in DILI, although our findings do not support evidence of these genetic variations playing a major role in AC DILI development.

NK Cell Subtypes as Regulators of Autoimmune Liver Disease

As major components of innate immunity, NK cells not only exert cell-mediated cytotoxicity to destroy tumors or infected cells, but also act to regulate the functions of other cells in the immune system by secreting cytokines and chemokines. Thus, NK cells provide surveillance in the early defense against viruses, intracellular bacteria, and cancer cells. However, the effecter function of NK cells must be exquisitely controlled to prevent inadvertent attack against normal “self” cells. In an organ such as the liver, where the distinction between immunotolerance and immune defense against routinely processed pathogens is critical, the plethora of NK cells has a unique role in the maintenance of homeostasis. Once self-tolerance is broken, autoimmune liver disease resulted. NK cells act as a “two-edged weapon” and even play opposite roles with both regulatory and inducer activities in the hepatic environment. That is, NK cells act not only to produce inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, but also to alter the proliferation and activation of associated lymphocytes. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms at work in autoimmune liver diseases remain to be identified. In this review, we focus on recent research with NK cells and their potential role in the development of autoimmune liver disease.