Relevance to Autism

Rare inherited loss-of-function variants in the LILRB2 gene were identified in ASD probands from the Simons Simplex Collection (Krumm et al., 2015) and in Chinese ASD probands (Guo et al., 2017). Transmission and De Novo Association (TADA) analysis of a cohort of 536 Chinese ASD probands and 1457 Chinese controls in Guo et al., 2017 identified the LILRB2 gene as an ASD candidate gene with a PTADA between 0.001 and 0.005 (0.009208); however, PTADA for this gene failed to reach significance (P < 0.01) following TADA analysis using a combined cohort of Chinese ASD probands and controls, as well as ASD probands and controls from the Simons Simplex Collection and the Autism Sequencing Consortium.

Molecular Function

This gene is a member of the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LIR) family, which is found in a gene cluster at chromosomal region 19q13.4. The encoded protein belongs to the subfamily B class of LIR receptors which contain two or four extracellular immunoglobulin domains, a transmembrane domain, and two to four cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs). The receptor is expressed on immune cells where it binds to MHC class I molecules on antigen-presenting cells and transduces a negative signal that inhibits stimulation of an immune response. It is thought to control inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity to help focus the immune response and limit autoreactivity.

External Links

References