Bettencourt, A.Martins Silva, A.Carvalho, C.Leal, B.Santos, E.Pinho-Costa, P.Silva, B.2015-02-172015-02-172014-04-15J Neuroimmunol. 2014 Apr 15;269(1-2):52-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.01.009. Epub 2014 Jan 280165-5728http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/2876Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (KIR) genes may influence both resistance and susceptibility to different autoimmune diseases, but their role in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is still unclear. We investigated the influence of KIR genes on MS susceptibility in 447 MS Portuguese patients, and also whether genetic interactions between specific KIR genes and their HLA class I ligands could contribute to the pathogenesis of MS. Weobserved a negative association between the activating KIR2DS1 gene and MS (adjusted OR = 0.450, p = 0.030)independently from the presence of HLA-DRB1*15 allele. The activating KIR2DS1 receptor seems to confer protection against MS most probably through modulation of autoreactive T cells by Natural Killer cells.engMultiple SclerosisKIRNatural killer CellsPortugalDoenças Genéticasjournal article10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.01.009