NKG2C deletion is a risk factor for human cytomegalovirus viremia and disease after lung transplantation

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication is limited by HCMV-specific natural killer (NK) cell response. Distinct genetic polymorphisms, which are potentially involved in antiviral NK cell response, have been described. Here, the association between polymorphisms at IgG1 genetic marker 3/17, FcγRIIIα/ CD16a 158V/F, NKG2C wt/del , CD226/rs727088, and rs763361, respectively, and HCMV viremia and disease were investigated in 98 lung transplant recipients (LTRs), within 9 months after stop of posttransplant HCMV prophylaxis. From all variants, only the NKG2C wt/wt genotype was significantly associated with freedom from HCMV viremia (P = .0002) and disease (P = .02), compared with the NKG2C wt/del genotype. Thus, LTRs expressing the homozygous NKG2C wild type seem to have a selective advantage in HCMV defense.