KIR Alleles and Their Correlation with Longevity: A Perspective on the Immunogenetics of Aging

Exceptional longevity is a multifactorial phenomenon in which optimal immune system function plays an essential role. KIR receptors (Killer-cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors), expressed on Natural Killer (NK) cells and on subpopulations of CD8+ T lymphocytes, represent key modula-tors of innate immunity. The extensive polymorphism of the KIR locus generates interindividual variability in immune surveillance capacity, with possible implications for aging. NK cells play a pivotal role in the immune response. During the ageing process, the activity and number of NK cells varies. The cytolytic activity of the natural killer cells is controlled by an array of activating and inhibitory cell surface receptors, including the KIRs.The present study aims to explore the frequency of KIR alleles in a cohort of 86 individuals in the 65-90 age bracket from Romania, providing inisghts into genetic diversity and potential implications in longevity. High-resolution KIR typing was performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, allowing for pre-cise identification of KIR alleles with a high degree of accuracy. The results reveal significant ge-netic diversity within the cohort, with prevalent alleles such as KIR2DL3*0020103, KIR2DL3*0020101, KIR2DS2*0010124, KIR2DS2*0010115 or KIR3DL1*0050101, potentially influencing disease susceptibility and longevity. The study reveals the genetic diversity of KIR alleles in elderly Romanians, highlighting prevalent alleles that could be linked to longevity and disease resistance. Further studies with larger number of samples are needed to confirm findings and uncover their implications for healthy aging and healthcare.