Title:The cytotoxic receptor (NKp30, NKp44 and NKp46) gene expression in coeliac disease patients

Author:Maryam Khodapanah, Nastaran Asri, Mohammad Rostami-Nejad, Mehrdad Hashemi and Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei

Abstract:Objectives: Defects in the expression of natural killer (NK) cells activating receptors (like NKp30, NKp44, and NKp46) impair the ability of NK cells to kill virus-infected cells and are associated with amplified local inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of these receptors in coeliac disease (CD) patients relative to controls.
Methods: We analysed the NKp30, NKp46 and NKp44 genes expression in intestinal biopsy specimens of 40 confirmed coeliac disease patients and 40 controls using the real-time PCR method.
Results: The NKp30 mRNA expression in coeliac disease patients was significantly lower than in controls (p=0.01) with a significant inverse correlation with the patient’s weight loss symptom (p=0.0173). The NKp44 mRNA expression was extremely higher in coeliac disease patients than in controls (p=0.02). The mRNA expression of NKp46 did not differ between patients and controls (p=0.3). The expression levels of these receptors did not show any significant difference between Marsh II and Marsh III groups of patients and controls (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Further studies are needed to elucidate the predominant NKp30 isoform and possible SNP role in controlling its expression in coeliac disease which leads to designing innovative targeted therapy for coeliac disease patients.
Keywords: Autoimmune Diseases, Biopsy, Coeliac disease (CD), Gene Expression
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