engleski

THE KIR AND HLA-C TYPING AS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL IN REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY

The ability of the mother’s immune system to “tolerate” the embryo which presents “non-self” Human Lekocyte Antigens (HLA) from the father is essential to achieve a successful pregnancy. This immunotolerance is achieved through interactions between the killer-cell immunoglobuline like receptors (KIR) on maternal uterine NK cells and fetal HLA-C antigens. Recent studies have revealed an increased risk of pregnancy complications/failure in mothers with the KIR AA haplotype when the fetus has more HLA-C2 epitope group genes than the mother. So the KIR and HLA-C genotyping of the mother and HLA-C genotyping of the father can help predict compatibility between maternal uterine KIRs and potential HLA-C presented by the embryo. In the Tissue typing Centre Zagreb so far we performed KIR and HLA-C genotyping and analyze the combinations of KIR and HLA-C genes in three couples (mother and partner) referred from a gynecological clinic due to reproductive infertility. All individuals were tested for HLA-C and KIR poylmorphisms using PCR- SSP method. None of the couples were deleterious KIR AA haplotype/ HLA-C2 epitope mother/partner combination. In conslusion, genetic testing for KIR/HLA-C could be additional diagnostic tool and should be implemented in algorithm of procedures for diagnosing infertility and help to direct medical interventions in order to achieve a successful pregnancy.

KIR, HLA-C, reproductive immunology

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