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Abstract
The presence and expression of killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) and CD94:NKG2 genes
from 68 donors were analyzed using molecular typing techniques. The genes encoding
CD94:NKG2 receptors were present in each person, but KIR gene possession varied. Most
individuals expressed inhibitory KIR for the three well-defined HLA-B and -C ligands,
but noninhibitory KIR genes were more variable. Twenty different KIR phenotypes were
defined. Two groups of KIR haplotypes were distinguished and occurred at relatively
even frequency. Group A KIR haplotypes consist of six genes: the main inhibitory KIR,
one noninhibitory KIR, and a structurally divergent KIR. Allelic polymorphism within
five KIR genes was detected. Group B comprises more noninhibitory KIR genes and contains
at least one additional gene not represented in group A. The KIR locus therefore appears
to be polygenic and polymorphic within the human population.