Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptor-Ligand Interactions Predict Clinical Outcomes Following Unrelated Donor Transplants.

Abstract

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and KIR-ligand (KIRL) interactions play an important role in natural killer (NK) cell mediated graft versus leukemia effect following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the KIR gene and KIRL content in individuals, making it difficult to estimate the full clinical impact of NK cell reconstitution following HCT. Here, a novel adaptive mathematical model designed to quantify these interactions is presented to better assess the influence of NK cell-mediated alloreactivity on transplant outcomes. Ninety-eight HLA matched unrelated donor (URD) HCT recipients were retrospectively studied. The KIR-KIRL interactions were quantified using a system of matrix equations. Unit values were ascribed to each KIR-KIRL interaction and directionality of interactions was denoted by, either a positive (activating) or negative symbol (inhibition); these interactions were then summed. The absolute values of both the missing KIRL as well as inhibitory KIR-KIRL interactions were significantly associated with overall survival and relapse. These score components were initially used to develop a weighted (w-KIR Score) and subsequently a simplified, non-weighted KIR-KIRL interaction scores (IM-KIR Score). Increased w-KIR Score and IM-KIR Score were both predictive of all-cause mortality and relapse; w-KIR score HR of 0.37 (P=0.001) and 0.44 (P=0.044) respectively; IM-KIR score HR of 0.5 (P=0.049) and 0.44 (P=0.002) respectively. IM-KIR score was also associated with NK cell reconstitution post HCT. KIR-KIRL interactions as reflected by the w-KIR and IM-KIR scores influence both relapse risk and survival in recipients of HLA matched URD HCT with hematological malignancies.