Tumor-associated B7-H1 promotes T-cell apoptosis: a potential mechanism of immune evasion

H Dong, SE Strome, DR Salomao, H Tamura… - Nature medicine, 2002 - nature.com
H Dong, SE Strome, DR Salomao, H Tamura, F Hirano, DB Flies, PC Roche, J Lu, G Zhu…
Nature medicine, 2002nature.com
Abstract B7-H1, a recently described member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules, is
thought to be involved in the regulation of cellular and humoral immune responses through
the PD-1 receptor on activated T and B cells. We report here that, except for cells of the
macrophage lineage, normal human tissues do not express B7-H1. In contrast, B7-H1 is
abundant in human carcinomas of lung, ovary and colon and in melanomas. The pro-
inflammatory cytokine interferon-γ upregulates B7-H1 on the surface of tumor cell lines …
Abstract
B7-H1, a recently described member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules, is thought to be involved in the regulation of cellular and humoral immune responses through the PD-1 receptor on activated T and B cells. We report here that, except for cells of the macrophage lineage, normal human tissues do not express B7-H1. In contrast, B7-H1 is abundant in human carcinomas of lung, ovary and colon and in melanomas. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-γ upregulates B7-H1 on the surface of tumor cell lines. Cancer cell–associated B7-H1 increases apoptosis of antigen-specific human T-cell clones in vitro, and the apoptotic effect of B7-H1 is mediated largely by one or more receptors other than PD-1. In addition, expression of B7-H1 on mouse P815 tumor increases apoptosis of activated tumor-reactive T cells and promotes the growth of highly immunogenic B7-1+ tumors in vivo. These findings have implications for the design of T cell–based cancer immunotherapy.
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