KIR matching in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Although the key role of MHC-restricted T lymphocytes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been known for a long time, recent data have focused on complementary or alternative effector cell populations, and in particular on NK cells. Spontaneously generated NK cell alloreactivity from stem cell grafts involves specific interactions between NK receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their MHC class I ligands. The combined effects of HLA and KIR polymorphic genes might explain discrepancies in the impact of donor–recipient matching observed in HSCT.