Multiple KIR gene polymorphisms are associated with plasma viral loads in SIV-infected rhesus macaques

Innate immune mechanisms play a deterministic role in the rate of disease progression during acute infection in HIV infected humans and SIV infection of non-human primates. The role NK cells play in mediating such an effect has thus gained importance. One of the major sets of molecules that regulate NK cell function are the killer cell immunoglobulin-like molecules (KIR’s). Our laboratory has previously shown an association of KIR3DL alleles 13 and 14 with high plasma viral loads in a cohort of SIV-infected rhesus macaques. To gain a more detailed understanding of the role of KIR polymorphisms, our laboratory herein conducted studies of three additional KIR loci and show that select KIR3DH alleles appear to be more strongly associated with high plasma viral loads than KIR3DL alleles 13 and 14. In addition, we herein document the existence of additional new alleles for the KIR1D, KIR2DL4, and the KIR3DH loci.