[The association of killer cell immunoglobulin like receptor gene polymorphism with cytomegalovirus infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To explore the influence of the killer cell immunoglobulin like receptor (KIR) gene polymorphism on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and pathogenesis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: The KIR genotype was determined by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) in 138 pairs of donors and recipients before HSCT during October, 2005 and May, 2011. Posttransplant monitoring for CMVpp65 antigen was performed by indirect immune histochemically assays since week 2 after transplantation. The differences between CMV positive group and negative group, inhibitive and active KIR of donors and recipients, and KIR haplotype frequency of donors and recipients were analyzed.

Results: There were no significant differences in frequency of KIR gene and haplotype AA, AB, BB between the donors and recipients. The frequencies of 2DS2 and 2DS4 * 003-007 of donors in CMV positive group were obviously lower than those in CMV negative group with significant differences (8% vs 16% , P = 0.0420; 3% vs 13%, P = 0.0050). There was no significant difference in KIR gene between CMV positive group and CMV negative group. The CMV infection rates of haplotype AA, BB, AB donors were 64.38%, 36.84% and 50.00%, while CMV infection rates of haplotype AA, BB, AB recipients were 53.73%, 46.15% and 51.72%, respectively. The CMV infection rate was higher in the patients received KIR haplotype AA donor than in those received KIR haplotype BB donor (36.84% vs 64.38%, P = 0.0299). 2DS4 x 003-007 and haplotype BB of donor were found associated with CMV infection in multifactor analysis.

Conclusion: KIR genotypes of donors are associated with CMV infection after HSCT.