KIR3DL2 GENETIC DIVERSITY AND HAPLOTYPE STRUCTURE IN BRAZIL

• Grant number: 19/27171-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Human and Medical Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Erick da Cruz Castelli
• Grantee: Gabriela Pereira de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Immunoglobulin-like Killer Receptors (KIR) expressed in Natural Killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes are important immunomodulators. KIR receptors interact with molecules from the Major Histocompatibility complex, particularly the class I molecules. This interaction may either stimulate NK/T cell activity or prevent their cytotoxic function. Some KIR genes are highly polymorphic, and this polymorphism may influence their function and their binding to HLA molecules. Therefore, since KIR receptors are fundamental components of immune response modulation, we will evaluate KIR3DL2 genetic diversity (all exons) using massively parallel sequencing and a bioinformatics pipeline designed for highly polymorphic and repetitive genes, in 200 individuals from the State of São Paulo, to understand KIR3DL2 variability and its function.