Importance of KIR genes and cytokine genes in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Author(s)

Amanda Vansan Marangon

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
• Defense date: 2014-02-25

Examining board members

Carmino Antonio de Souza; Ana Maria Sell; Luiza Tamie Tsuneto; Erich Vinicius De Paula; Carmen Silvia Passos Lima

• Advisor: Carmino Antonio de Souza; Jeane Eliete Laguila Visentainer

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most prevalent subtype of malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and affects approximately 30-40 % of all cases. The DLBCL has no clearly defined etiology and pathogenesis, but its development seems to be related to ineffective immune responses due to frequent association of lymphoma with immunosuppression. Genetic factors involved in the development and progression of the disease are not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of KIR genes, HLA ligands and cytokine polymorphisms in the susceptibility or resistance to the development of DLBCL, as well as influence in the clinical course and response to treatment. To this end, we selected 112 patients with DLBCL and 292 bone marrow donors as control group. The typing of KIR genes and HLA ligands were performed by PCR-SSOP and typing of cytokine genes was performed by PCR-SSP technique. Statistical analyzes were performed by the statistical package " R " version 3.0.2 for Windows program. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. The distribution of KIR genes in both groups showed a lower frequency of the KIR2DL2 gene in patients compared to controls (45.5% vs 58.1% P=0.036), this association was significant also in combination KIR2DL2 with C1 (33.0% vs 45.9%, P=0.026) suggesting a protective role of this gene to the development of DLBCL. Regarding the clinical course of the disease, HLA-Bw4 and HLA-Bw4 80I ligands were more frequent in patients with more advanced stages of the disease (64.7% vs 40.9%, P=0.020 and 44.1% vs 25 0%, P=0.046, respectively) suggesting that the presence of these ligands may be poor prognostic factor to DLBCL. In regard to treatment response, the KIR2DL3 gene was positively associated with the treatment of DLBCL, because this gene was more frequent in individuals with complete response than in nonresponders individuals (88.3% vs 71.0%, P=0.044 ). Regarding the cytokine genes , IFN -gamma-874/A genotype:A/A was positively associated with DLBCL, it was more frequently in patients than in controls (50.9% vs 27.9%, P=0.001). On other hand genotypes: IFNG -874 /T:A, IL10-819/C:C and IL10 -592 /C:C were less frequent in patients than in controls (P=0.001, P=0.025, P=0.025 respectively). Moreover, the genotype IL-1082/G:G was related to increased progression-free survival. The results suggest that the KIR genes, HLA ligands and cytokine genes seem to be involved in the protection, susceptibility, clinical course and response to treatment of DLBCL (AU)