Background: LILRB4 and TSC22D3 in Inflammation
HER2/neu mutations or amplifications can activate STAT3 to promote inflammation and suppressing adaptive immune responses. Elevated systemic inflammation-immune index (SII) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) correlates with reduced response to PD-1/L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), leading to worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). We used a model of genetic heterogeneity to identify two genes involved in inflammation; TSC22D3 and LILRB4.
TSC22D3 is a transcription factor and one of the first genes induced by glucocorticoid activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). TSC22D3 is expressed in stroma and macrophages.
LILRB4 is a transmembrane receptor that is regulated by TSC22D3. LILRB4 is expressed exclusively by myeloid cells.
We asked whether LILRB4 expression is associated with survival in lung cancer.