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a Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical School Hannover, Germany b Aesku Diagnostics, Wendelsheim, Germany
Key Words: autoimmunity • ILTs • ILT6 • tolerance • MS
Address for correspondence: Gamze Kabalak, Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg Str.1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Voice: +49-0-511-5323625; fax: +49-0-511-5325648. kabalak.gamze{at}mh-hannover.de
Risk genes for multiple sclerosis (MS) are localized in the gene regions 6p21-11 and 19q13, the latter harboring the genes of the immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILTs). ILTs are a family of activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) as well as on natural killer (NK) and T cells. Because of the inhibitory function of ILT2 and ILT4 and their binding to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G, they play a role in immune tolerance and may be important in pathogenesis of autoimmunity. ILT6 shows presence–absence variability and is produced by macrophages in a soluble form. ILT6 deletion is associated with MS. Furthermore, ILT6 activates T cell proliferation and is therefore a candidate gene for autoimmune disorders.
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