Natural killer (NK) cells have been implicated in the immune response against multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate NK cell activity by recognizing specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I as ligands. To investigate the association of KIR genes and ligands with MM in the Thai population. KIR gene polymorphisms and their HLA ligands were investigated in 66 Thai patients with MM and 200 healthy controls. The frequencies of KIR3DL1 and 2DS4

more »

... e significantly lower in myeloma patients than in controls (P = 0.02). The frequencies of KIR3DL1, 2DS4, 2DL1 with C2, and 3DL1 with Bw4 were significantly higher in the patients achieving > very good partial response (VGPR) than those achieving ≤ VGPR after treatment with bortezomib (P = 0.009, 0.009, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively). This study suggests the association of KIR genes with the protection against MM and the association of inhibitory KIR and ligands with the response to treatment in MM.