Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B: therapeutic targets in cancer

Mi Deng; Heyu Chen; Xiaoye Liu; Ryan Huang; Yubo He; Byounggyu Yoo; Jingjing Xie; Samuel John; Ningyan Zhang; Zhiqiang An; Cheng Cheng Zhang

doi:10.1093/abt/tbab002

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B: therapeutic targets in cancer

Antib Ther. 2021 Feb 9;4(1):16-33. doi: 10.1093/abt/tbab002. eCollection 2021 Jan.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
³ Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Abstract

Inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRBs 1-5) transduce signals via intracellular immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs that recruit phosphatases to negatively regulate immune activation. The activation of LILRB signaling in immune cells may contribute to immune evasion. In addition, the expression and signaling of LILRBs in cancer cells especially in certain hematologic malignant cells directly support cancer development. Certain LILRBs thus have dual roles in cancer biology-as immune checkpoint molecules and tumor-supporting factors. Here, we review the expression, ligands, signaling, and functions of LILRBs, as well as therapeutic development targeting them. LILRBs may represent attractive targets for cancer treatment, and antagonizing LILRB signaling may prove to be effective anti-cancer strategies.

Keywords: ITIM; LILRB; cancer; immune inhibitory receptor; immunoglobulin-like domain; immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif; leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B; signal transduction.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

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