Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Reproduction, infection and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor haplotype evolution.


ABSTRACT: Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are encoded by one of the most polymorphic families in the human genome. KIRs are expressed on natural killer (NK) cells, which have dual roles: (1) in fighting infection and (2) in reproduction, regulating hemochorial placentation. Uniquely among primates, human KIR genes are arranged into two haplotypic combinations: KIR A and KIR B. It has been proposed that KIR A is specialized to fight infection, whilst KIR B evolved to help ensure successful reproduction. Here we demonstrate that a combination of infectious disease selection and reproductive selection can drive the evolution of KIR B-like haplotypes from a KIR A-like founder haplotype. Continued selection to survive and to reproduce maintains a balance between KIR A and KIR B.

SUBMITTER: Penman BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5056949 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC540275 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2734079 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4913894 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC3267113 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6251751 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8896733 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4400354 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3932910 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9496851 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3723390 | biostudies-literature