The immune checkpoint LILRB4 promotes immune evasion and is correlated with disease progression and secondary malignancies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of clonal malignant B cells and heterogeneous clinical outcomes. This study explored the role of the immune checkpoint receptor LILRB4 (ILT3), previously implicated in acute myeloid leukemia, in the pathogenesis and progression of CLL. Analysis of 126 CLL patient samples revealed aberrantly elevated LILRB4 expression on leukemic B cells, with higher levels observed in advanced disease stages. Elevated LILRB4 expression was correlated with shorter time-to-treatment intervals and reduced overall survival, highlighting its potential as a prognostic marker. Mechanistically, LILRB4 was enriched in a proliferative leukemic subpopulation driven by the TLR9 and BTK signaling pathways. Functional assays demonstrated that LILRB4 promotes immune evasion by suppressing T and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, while its blockade restored immune effector activity and impaired leukemic cell migration. Furthermore, elevated levels of soluble LILRB4 (sLILRB4) in patient serum are associated with poor clinical outcomes, including an increased incidence of secondary malignancies. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated the high sensitivity and specificity of sLILRB4 as a biomarker for disease progression. Collectively, these findings identify membrane-bound LILRB4 as a mediator of immune suppression and disease progression in CLL, while highlighting sLILRB4 as a potential biomarker associated with poor clinical outcomes. Further investigations into LILRB4-directed therapies could pave the way for improved patient stratification and novel treatment strategies in CLL patients.