TY - JOUR
T1 - An historical approach to the genetic distribution of KIR and HLA ligands in Eastern Sicilians compared to modern descendants of their invaders
AU - Capittini, Cristina
AU - Messina, Francesco
AU - Puglisi, Fabrizio
AU - Azzaro, Maria
AU - Toscano, Sebastiana
AU - De Silvestri, Annalisa
AU - Tinelli, Carmine
AU - Sortino, Grazia
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - A geographical stratification of Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) has been reported worldwide. We first analyzed the distribution of 15 KIR genes in a sample of 50 East-Sicilians (ES). We used a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to compare the KIR genetic content among ES and 10 modern populations who are descendants of the ancient invaders of Sicily: Spanish, French, Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, Tunisians, Moroccans, Arabs, Greeks, Turks. We also included a sample of Sardinians, and Senegalese (as outlier group). Then, we also compared the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C allelic frequencies among ES and the same populations investigated for KIR. As to HLA-A and HLA-B polymorphisms, ES are close to Greek population who invaded the island for long time until 827 CE; while HLA-C and KIR distribution in ES are close to Spanish population that invaded Sicily (and Sardinia) starting from 1283. As to KIR, ES are close to Spanish and Sardinians. The immunogenetic fingerprint of ES may be the finely balanced result of the invasions that overwhelmed Sicily over the centuries.
AB - A geographical stratification of Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) has been reported worldwide. We first analyzed the distribution of 15 KIR genes in a sample of 50 East-Sicilians (ES). We used a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to compare the KIR genetic content among ES and 10 modern populations who are descendants of the ancient invaders of Sicily: Spanish, French, Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, Tunisians, Moroccans, Arabs, Greeks, Turks. We also included a sample of Sardinians, and Senegalese (as outlier group). Then, we also compared the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C allelic frequencies among ES and the same populations investigated for KIR. As to HLA-A and HLA-B polymorphisms, ES are close to Greek population who invaded the island for long time until 827 CE; while HLA-C and KIR distribution in ES are close to Spanish population that invaded Sicily (and Sardinia) starting from 1283. As to KIR, ES are close to Spanish and Sardinians. The immunogenetic fingerprint of ES may be the finely balanced result of the invasions that overwhelmed Sicily over the centuries.
KW - Human Leukocyte Antigens
KW - Immune system
KW - Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors
KW - Population genetics
KW - Sicily
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U2 - 10.1016/j.humimm.2017.10.008
DO - 10.1016/j.humimm.2017.10.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85032190240
VL - 79
SP - 5
EP - 12
JO - Human Immunology
JF - Human Immunology
SN - 0198-8859
IS - 1
ER -