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IFN-γ upregulates membranous and soluble PD-L1 in mesothelioma cells: potential implications for the clinical response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 17, pages 410–411 (2020)Cite this article

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Programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) plays a crucial role in the suppression of the antitumor immune response upon interaction with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) on cytotoxic T cells. PD-L1 is constitutively expressed on antigen-presenting cells or tumor cells. Indeed, PD-L1 has been detected by immunohistochemistry in a variety of tumors, including malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), in which it has emerged as a predictive biomarker for PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs).1,2

PD-L1 expression on tumor cells can be upregulated by several factors including the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) cytokine produced by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).3

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Italian Ministry of Health (5x1000 funds 2014 and 2015; Ricerca Corrente 2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tumor Epigenetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy

    Maria Pia Pistillo, Roberta Carosio, Barbara Banelli & Anna Morabito

  2. Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy

    Luca Mastracci

  3. Anatomic Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy

    Luca Mastracci

  4. Histopathology and Cytopathology Division, Azienda Sanitaria Locale 5, 19121 La Spezia, Italy

    Paola Ferro

  5. Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy

    Serena Varesano, Roberta Venè & Alessandro Poggi

  6. AIL, Associazione italiana contro le leucemie, linfomi e mieloma, 19121 La Spezia, Italy

    Silvio Roncella

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  1. Maria Pia Pistillo
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  2. Roberta Carosio
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Correspondence to Maria Pia Pistillo.

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Pistillo, M.P., Carosio, R., Banelli, B. et al. IFN-γ upregulates membranous and soluble PD-L1 in mesothelioma cells: potential implications for the clinical response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Cell Mol Immunol 17, 410–411 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-019-0245-x

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