Paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor beta (PILRB)

Paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor beta (PILRB) is a cell surface activating receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is encoded by the PILRB gene, which is located on chromosome 7, adjacent to its inhibitory counterpart PILRA. PILRB has a truncated cytoplasmic tail and lacks immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs), functioning as an activating receptor, usually through association with ITAM-bearing adaptor molecules such as DAP12. It plays a key role in regulating innate immune cell responses, especially within the myeloid lineage (monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells). PILRB is implicated in balancing immune activation and inhibition, modulating cytokine profiles during infections and inflammation, and has newly described oncogenic functions in cancers such as gastric cancer, where it promotes PI3K/AKT signaling and tumorigenesis. Manipulation of PILRB's pathway has shown both protective and harmful effects in preclinical infection models, highlighting its regulatory significance and the complexity of targeting it therapeutically[1][2][3][4][5].

Other names

FDFACTPP1551FDFACT1FDFACT2activating receptor PILR-betacell surface receptor FDFACTpaired immunoglobin-like receptor betapaired immunoglobulin-like receptor beta

Activates immune cell signaling by associating with ITAM-bearing adaptor molecules (e.g., DAP12) on the cell surface, promoting inflammatory cytokine production[3][5]. In cancer, enhances PI3K/AKT signaling and reprograms cholesterol metabolism by stabilizing IRS4[2].