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Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors

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Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRs) are a diverse family of cell surface proteins predominantly expressed on various immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and subsets of B and T lymphocytes. These receptors play crucial roles in regulating immune responses through both activating and inhibitory mechanisms. LILRs are integral to maintaining immune homeostasis, preventing autoimmunity, and responding to infections and tumors.

Structurally, LILRs are characterized by extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains and cytoplasmic tails that either contain immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) or associate with activating adaptor proteins. The balance of LILR signaling helps tune the immune threshold and contributes to various immune processes ranging from tolerance to inflammation and pathogen clearance.

LILRs are encoded in the leukocyte receptor complex (LRC) located on chromosome 19q13.4, a region that also contains other immunoregulatory receptors. Their classification includes activating receptors (LILRA subfamily) and inhibitory receptors (LILRB subfamily), each recognizing a variety of ligands including classical and non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.


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They include

The LILR family is divided into two main subgroups:

Most LILRs contain two or four Ig-like extracellular domains and a transmembrane region. Some can bind both classical (HLA-A, -B, -C) and non-classical (HLA-E, -F, -G) MHC class I molecules, while others show specificity for free heavy chains of MHC molecules.

LILRs are encoded in a tightly clustered region known as the leukocyte receptor complex (LRC) on chromosome 19q13.4. This locus contains genes with high sequence similarity and evidence of duplication events, supporting the idea that these receptors have evolved rapidly in response to pathogenic pressures.

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