Mouse Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Subfamily B Member 4 (LILRB4/CD85k/ILT3) is an approximately transmembrane glycoprotein that negatively regulates immune cell activation. Mouse LILRB4 consists of a 215 amino acid (aa) extracellular domain with two Ig-like domains, a 22 aa transmembrane segment, and a 75 aa cytoplasmic domain with 3 immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM). Within the ECD, mouse LILRB4 shares 45% and 77% aa sequence identity with human and rat LILRB4, respectively. Alternative splicing of mouse LILRB4 generates a potentially soluble isoform that lacks the transmembrane segment. LILRB4 is expressed on dendritic cells (DC), monocytes, macrophages, and vascular endothelial cells (EC). Ligation of LILRB4 triggers ITIM-mediated inhibition of cellactivating signaling, leading to enhanced immune tolerance and reduced allogeneic graft rejection. Soluble LILRB4 induces the differentiation of CD8+ T suppressor cells (Ts) that can inhibit the effector functions of CD4+ Th cells and CD8+ CTL. In turn, CD8+ Ts cells induce LILRB4 up-regulation and a tolerogenic phenotype in monocytes, DC, and EC.
