New paper from the McCarthy Lab!

A project led by Zuyi Fu (PhD student in our lab) and Matevž Rumpret (Postdoc in our lab), together with Irina Kube-Golovin and Mykola Lyndin (University of Duisburg-Essen), has been published in October 2025 in European Journal of Immunology. This work was carried out in collaboration with Bernhard B. Singer (University of Duisburg-Essen).

Big congratulations to everyone involved!

Human immune cells express activating receptors to trigger effector functions essential for microbial clearance. Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor A5 (LILRA5) is an orphan receptor expressed on human phagocytes and co-localises with FcRγ. However, its function and mechanism have remained poorly characterised due to the lack of molecular tools. In this project, we aimed to investigate the expression and function of this receptor in innate immunity. To achieve this, we developed a highly specific anti-LILRA5 monoclonal antibody with agonistic properties.

Using this antibody, we found that:

• LILRA5 is expressed on naïve monocytes and neutrophils, and activation of LILRA5 stimulates ROS production.

• LILRA5 surface expression is altered during systemic infections.

• Soluble LILRA5 levels are increased in sera from sepsis patients.

• Changes in LILRA5 surface expression influence its capacity to induce ROS production.

  
  

This work was completed in collaboration with Zuyi Fu, Matevž Rumpret, Irina Kube-Golovin, Mykola Lyndin, Vera Solntceva, Yuxi Zhao, Anastasia Konieva, Na Liu, Adrian T. Press, Stefanie B. Flohé, Michael Bauer, Gunther Wennemuth, and Bernhard B. Singer.