Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes in a large, multi-centre cohort of Chinese donors

Background The killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR), which mediates the killing function of NK cells, is an attractive candidate for adoptive cellular therapy. The ethnic distribution for China provides a unique opportunity to investigate KIR gene distribution. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between population history and the rapidly evolving KIR genetic diversity. Subjects and methods 8050 Chinese donors from 184 hospitals were included to analyse frequency, haplotype, and B-content data of 16 KIR genes, by PCR-SSP for KIR genotyping. Results KIR gene carrier frequencies were found similar to those observed in other studies on Han, but different from Thais, Japanese, Africans, and populations of West Eurasian ancestry. High-frequency KIR genotype profiles found in the present population were consistent with other studies on Han populations but different from those conducted on other cohorts. The majority of our cohort carried group A KIR gene motifs. Additionally, populations with similar geographic locations in China were shown clustered together, while Hainan and Xinjiang provinces were slightly separated from these. Conclusion The distribution of KIR genes varies by geographic region, and different ethnic groups may be a confounding factor of KIR diversity.