The ILT family of leukocyte receptors

In this short review we examine the recently identified immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT) family of receptors (also known as LIR and MIR). ILT are expressed by many leukocyte subsets, especially monocytic cells. Expression levels of certain ILT molecules allow definition of blood monocyte and den dritic cell (DC) subsets. Two receptors, ILT2 and ILT4, recognise a broad r ange of MHC class I molecules and transduce an inhibitory signal. Such reco gnition may give many cell lineages the potential to recognise and respond to MHC class I down-regulation.