Introduction: Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in defense against tumor cells. The development and function of NK cells is governed by a dynamic balance between inhibition and activation of cell surface receptors, including KIR receptors.
Patients and method: A case-control study is carried out that compares a group of 46 children diagnosed with malignant diseases, the control group is made up of 82 healthy children. KIRs genes, haplotypes and ligands were determined and compared between groups.
Results: There are no differences in KIRs genes, KIRs haplotypes or in KIRs gene ligands between groups. However, when KIRS and ligands were jointly studied, k2DS1_C2 was significantly higher in the group of cancer children (p=0.016).
Conclusions: Our results do not provide evidence of an association between pediatric cancer disease with genotypes and groups of genes KIRs. The k2DS1_C2 genotype could predispose to susceptibility to malignant processes in children.
Keywords: Cancer; Cáncer; Genotipo; Genotype; NK cells immunoglobulin-like receptor; Paediatrics; Pediatría; Receptor similar a la inmunoglobulina de células asesinas.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.