title: Immunoglobulin-like transcripts as risk genes for autoimmunity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical School Hannover, Germany. kabalak.gamze@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kabalak
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Baukje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dobberstein
authors.forename: Yu-Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: The
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matthias
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schnarr
authors.forename: Reinhold E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Witte
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011971:Receptors, Immunologic