KIR3DL1 is a polymorphic inhibitory receptor that modulates NK cell activity through interacting with HLA-A and HLA-B alleles that carry the Bw4 epitope. Amino acid polymorphisms throughout KIR3DL1 impact receptor surface expression and affinity for HLA. KIR3DL1/S1 encodes inhibitory and activating alleles, but despite high homology with KIR3DL1, the activating receptor KIR3DS1 does not bind th...

Although it is clear that KIR3DL1 recognizes Bw4(+) HLA-B, the role of Bw4(+) HLA-A allotypes as KIR3DL1 ligands is controversial. We therefore examined the binding of tetrameric HLA-A and -B complexes, including HLA*2402, a common Bw4(+) HLA-A allotype, to KIR3DL1*001, *005, *007, and *1502 allotypes. Only Bw4(+) tetramers bound KIR3DL1. Three of four HLA-A*2402 tetramers bound one or more KIR...

Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in immunity, but how HLA class I (HLA-I) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL1 (KIR3DL1) polymorphism impacts disease outcome remains unclear. KIR3DL1 (*001/*005/*015) tetramers were screened for reactivity against a panel of HLA-I molecules. This revealed different and distinct hierarchies of specificity for each KIR3DL1 allotype, with KIR3...

In contrast to the KIR2D:HLA-C interaction, little is known of KIR3DL1's interaction with HLA-B or the role of D0, the domain not present in KIR2D. Differences in the strength and specificity for major histocompatibility complex class I of KIR3DL1 and its common chimpanzee homologue Pt-KIR3DL1/2 were exploited to address these questions. Domain-swap, deletion, and site-directed mutants of KIR3D...

Variable interaction between the Bw4 epitope of HLA-B and the polymorphic KIR3DL1/S1 system of inhibitory and activating NK cell receptors diversifies the development, repertoire formation, and response of human NK cells. KIR3DL1*004, a common KIR3DL1 allotype, in combination with Bw4(+) HLA-B, slows progression of HIV infection to AIDS. Analysis in this study of KIR3DL1*004 membrane traffic in...

Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) has been linked to protection from HIV infection and slower progression towards AIDS. However, antibody-dependent activation of NK cells results in phenotypical alterations similar to those observed on NK cells from individuals with progressive HIV infection. Activation of NK cells induces matrix metalloproteinase...

Combinations of KIR3DL1 and HLA-Bw4 alleles protect against HIV infection and/or disease progression. These combinations enhance NK cell responsiveness through the ontological process of education. However, educated KIR3DL1(+) NK cells do not have enhanced degranulation upon direct recognition of autologous HIV-infected cells. Since antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is associated ...

NK cells express both inhibitory and activatory receptors that allow them to recognize target cells through HLA class I Ag expression. KIR3DL1 is a receptor that recognizes the HLA-Bw4 public epitope of HLA-B alleles. We demonstrate that polymorphism within the KIR3DL1 receptor has functional consequences in terms of NK cell recognition of target. Inhibitory alleles of KIR3DL1 differ in their a...

KIR3DL1 is among the most interesting receptors studied, within the killer immunoglobulin receptor (KIR) family. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I Bw4 epitope inhibits strongly Natural Killer (NK) cell's activity through interaction with KIR3DL1 receptor, while Bw6 generally does not. This interaction has been indicated to play an important role in the immune control of different viral infe...

Epidemiological studies have shown the protective effect of KIR3DL1/HLA-Bw4 genotypes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection; however, the functional correlates for the protective effect remain unknown. We investigated whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Bw4-presented HIV-1 peptides could affect the interaction between the inhibitory natural killer (NK) cell receptor KIR3DL1...