Human Diversity of Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors and Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Alleles and Ebola Virus Disease Outcomes.
Wawina-Bokalanga T., Vanmechelen B., Lhermitte V., Martí-Carreras J., Vergote V., Koundouno FR., Akoi-Boré J., Thom R., Tipton T., Steeds K., Moussa KB., Amento A., Laenen L., Duraffour S., Gabriel M., Ruibal P., Hall Y., Kader-Kondé M., Günther S., Baele G., Muñoz-Fontela C., Van Weyenbergh J., Carroll MW., Maes P.
We investigated the genetic profiles of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in Ebola virus-infected patients. We studied the relationship between KIR-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) combinations and the clinical outcomes of patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD). We genotyped KIRs and HLA class I alleles using DNA from uninfected controls, EVD survivors, and persons who died of EVD. The activating 2DS4-003 and inhibitory 2DL5 genes were significantly more common among persons who died of EVD; 2DL2 was more common among survivors. We used logistic regression analysis and Bayesian modeling to identify 2DL2, 2DL5, 2DS4-003, HLA-B-Bw4-Thr, and HLA-B-Bw4-Ile as probably having a significant relationship with disease outcome. Our findings highlight the importance of innate immune response against Ebola virus and show the association between KIRs and the clinical outcome of EVD.