Protection From Varicella Zoster in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Carrying Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B Haplotypes

Publication

Protection From Varicella Zoster in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Carrying Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B Haplotypes

Journal Paper/Review - Dec 1, 2015

Schmied Laurent, Stern Martin, Hess Christoph, Meylan Pascal, Manuel Oriol, Villard Jean, Christoph Berger, Mueller Nicolas J, Boggian Katia, Van Delden Christian, Garzoni Christian, Hirsch Hans H, Schmitter Karin, Gonzalez Asensio, Terszowski Grzegorz

Citation

Schmied L, Stern M, Hess C, Meylan P, Manuel O, Villard J, Christoph B, Mueller N, Boggian K, Van Delden C, Garzoni C, Hirsch H, Schmitter K, Gonzalez A, Terszowski G. Protection From Varicella Zoster in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Carrying Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B Haplotypes. Transplantation 2015; 99:2651-5.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Transplantation 2015; 99

Publication Date

Dec 1, 2015

Issn Electronic

1534-6080

Pages

2651-5

Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND
Natural killer cell function is regulated by inhibitory and activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). Previous studies have documented associations of KIR genotype with the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication after solid organ transplantation.

METHODS
In this study of 649 solid organ transplant recipients, followed prospectively for infectious disease events within the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study, we were interested to see if KIR genotype associated with virus infections other than CMV.

RESULT
We found that KIR B haplotypes (which have previously been linked to protection from CMV replication) were associated with protection from varicella zoster virus infection (hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.91; P = 0.03). No significant associations were detected regarding the risk of herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus or BK polyomavirus infections.

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, these data provide evidence that the relative protection of KIR haplotype B from viral replication after solid organ transplantation may extend beyond CMV to other herpes viruses, such as varicella zoster virus and possibly Epstein-Barr virus.