HANGING IN THE BALANCE

Genetic model for the association of KIR with different disease. The activating and inhibitory KIR of different KIR locus haplotypes generate a “molecular rheostat” in which individuals are susceptible or protected from a variety of diseases. This model is based on KIR genotypes and KIR:HLA combinations which are considered to provide different levels of inhibition and activation, and on disease studies in which an association with protection or susceptibility was associated with specific KIR genes, or specific KIR and HLA combinations.