LILRA4/ILT7, an inhibitory receptor belonging to the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LIR) family. Its primary cellular expression is restricted to plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which are major producers of type I interferons (IFN-α/β) in response to viral infections and nucleic acid immune complexes. In certain autoimmune diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, cutaneous lupus), pDCs are aberrantly activated, leading to excessive and pathogenic type I interferon production, a hallmark of these conditions. ILT7 forms a complex with the FcεRIγ chain and transmits an inhibitory signal that negatively regulates pDC activation and interferon production.