Evidence for paternal kin bias in the social affiliation of adult female blue monkeys.

If animals increase inclusive fitness by cooperating with relatives, nepotism should involve maternal and paternal kin equally, all else being equal. Evidence of a behavioral bias toward paternal half-siblings in primates is both limited and mixed, with most positive reports from papionins. To expand knowledge of paternal kin recognition, particularly in cercopithecine monkeys, we examined evidence for paternal kin bias in wild blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), a species living mostly in one-male groups.

Report from the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) anthropology component of the 15th International Histocompatibility Workshop: worldwide variation in the KIR loci and further evidence for the co-evolution of KIR and HLA.

The killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) anthropology component of the 15th International Histocompatibility Workshop (IHIWS) sought to explore worldwide population variation in the KIR loci, and to examine the relationship between KIR genes and their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands. Fifteen laboratories submitted KIR genotype and HLA ligand data in 27 populations from six broad ethnic groups. Data were analyzed for correlations between the frequencies of KIR and their known HLA ligands.

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR2DL2 and/or KIR2DS2) in presence of their ligand (HLA-C1 group) protect against chronic myeloid leukaemia.

We have analysed the frequency of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) in cohorts of patients from Turkey with acute lymphocyte leukaemia (n = 52), acute myeloid leukaemia (n = 54) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) (n = 52) and compared the results with 154 controls. We also examined the frequencies of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-C groups, -Bw4, -Bw6 and where appropriate the combination of the KIR gene and its ligand. We found several statistically significant results between the patients and the controls.

Reassessing the impact of donor HLA-C genotype on long-term liver transplant survival.

HLA-C is the major inhibitory ligand for killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) that are expressed on natural killer (NK) cells. Based on their KIR specificity, HLA-C alleles can be divided into two groups, termed HLA-C1 and HLA-C2. Donor HLA-C group has recently been identified by Hanvesakul et al.

Analysis of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genes in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: To assess the possible association of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes, specifically KIR3DL1, KIR3DS1 and KIR3DL2, with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: 14 KIR genes were genotyped in 200 UK patients with AS and 405 healthy controls using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes were used to subtype 368 cases with AS and 366 controls for 12 KIR3DL2 alleles.

Investigation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene diversity, KIR2DL1 and KIR2DS1.

Polymorphism in the alleles of the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DL1 and 2DS1 genes has been investigated by the development of polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing systems. The methods have been applied to 77 Northern Irish families, establishing allele frequencies from the unrelated parents. Additionally, cell line DNA from individuals and CEPH families of the 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop panel were investigated.

Investigation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene diversity: KIR2DL2, KIR2DL5 and KIR2DS5.

Human killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes are important for restraining natural killer cytotoxicity toward cells with autologous human leukocyte antigen (HLA) while targeting cells lacking or expressing low levels of self-HLA molecules. KIR gene content and alleles vary across individual genomes and populations, requiring specialized laboratory tools for their characterization. Here, we detail methods based on sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction amplification and oligonucleotide probe hybridization to identify alleles of KIR2DL2, KIR2DL5A, KIR2DL5B and KIR2DS5.

No association of KIR genes with Behcet's disease.

Behcet's disease (BD) is thought to be caused by multiple genetic, environmental and immunological factors, one of the most prominent being the strong association with human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-Bw51, an HLA-Bw4-associated allele. We examined the presence/absence of 14 killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their ligands in 134 Turkish individuals with BD and compared the results with those of 154 ethnically matched controls. Although KIR3DL1 with its ligand (HLA-Bw4) was significantly increased in the patients with BD (P = 0.

Activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene KIR2DS1 is associated with psoriatic arthritis.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genotyping was performed on a cohort of American Caucasian patients with psoriasis to investigate any possible relationship between these chromosome 19 genes and autoimmune-linked disease. This patient cohort also contained a subgroup of patients who had been additionally diagnosed as positive for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Because of the known association of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-Cw*06 with psoriasis, the study concentrated on the five KIR genes that have HLA-C as their recognized ligand (i.

Ketamine disrupts frontal and hippocampal contribution to encoding and retrieval of episodic memory: an fMRI study.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine produces episodic memory deficits. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize the effects of ketamine on frontal and hippocampal responses to memory encoding and retrieval in healthy volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, within-subjects comparison of two doses of intravenous ketamine. Dissociation of the effects of ketamine on encoding and retrieval processes was achieved using two study-test cycles: in the first, items were encoded prior to drug infusion and retrieval tested, during scanning, on drug; in the second, encoding was scanned on drug, and retrieval tested once ketamine plasma levels had declined.

Investigation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene diversity V. KIR3DL2.

Allelic definition within the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene, KIR3DL2, has been achieved through a sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe methodology, designed around the specific amplification of the D0 and D1 domains and a section of the cytoplasmic tail of this gene. The system has been applied to a healthy Northern Irish control group, establishing frequencies for this Caucasian population. Additionally, the KIR3DL2 allele status of cell line DNA and Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) families, both from the 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop, has been established.

Investigation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene diversity III. KIR2DL3.

The allelic variation of one of the chromosome 19 KIR genes, KIR2DL3, has been investigated using a polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe-based methodology. The procedure has been applied to a healthy Northern Irish control group in order to establish phenotype and genotype frequencies in this Caucasian population. In addition, cell line DNA and Centre d'Etude du Humaine (CEPH) families, both from the 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop have been investigated, establishing control data for this gene.

Investigation of killer cell immunoglobulinlike receptor gene diversity: I. KIR2DL4.

Polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes typing procedures identifying alleles of the killer immunoglobulin-like gene (KIR2DL4) have been established. The methods, designed around the specific amplification of the D0 and D2 domains of this gene, produce discrimination of KIR2DL4 alleles. The methods have been applied to a healthy Northern Irish control group, establishing frequencies for this Caucasian population.

Multiple copies of KIR 3DL/S1 and KIR 2DL4 genes identified in a number of individuals.

Multiple copies of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene, 3DL/S1, have been identified in certain individuals. Additionally, allele determination of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene (KIR), 2DL4, has identified three alleles of this gene present in these same individuals. This event has been confirmed by isolating three distinct KIR2DL4 allele clones in each individual, which sequenced as the alleles identified by the allele identification technique.

Pre-transplantation immunological monitoring and graft survival in recipients of renal allografts.

Various immunological parameters were measured pre-transplantation in 82 renal transplant recipients. The results were compared with the clinical course of the recipient post-transplantation and with the results of 40 controls. Only one test C3 inactivation products (C3i) was associated with transplant outcome in that 0/30 patients with no rejection episodes had C3i whereas 9/38 patients with rejection episodes, including 3/12 patients whose graft failed, had C3i.